Nigeria’s security situation deteriorated sharply in
2025, with a significant rise in terrorist attacks and fatalities, according to
the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026 report by the Institute for
Economics and Peace.
The report shows that Nigeria moved up two places to
rank fourth among the most terrorism-affected countries globally, reflecting a
surge in violent incidents.
Terrorist attacks increased by 43 percent, rising from
120 incidents in 2024 to 171 in 2025. Fatalities also climbed by 46 percent to
750 deaths, marking the highest level recorded in the country since 2020.
The violence continues to be largely driven by
extremist groups such as Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram,
which together accounted for about 80 percent of all terrorism-related deaths.
The impact remains heavily concentrated in
northeastern Nigeria, particularly in Borno State, which recorded 67 percent of
all attacks and 72 percent of total deaths, reinforcing its status as the
epicentre of insurgency.
Unlike several neighbouring countries in the Sahel
region that recorded declines in both attacks and fatalities, Nigeria stood out
as the only country experiencing increases in both categories.
The report also highlighted a broader trend of rising
terrorism since 2022, with fatalities in 2025 exceeding the previous year by
237 deaths. A major factor behind this increase is the growing activity of
ISIS-affiliated groups, with attacks linked to such groups jumping from 20 in
2024 to 92 in 2025.
Globally, terrorism remains concentrated in a handful
of countries, with Nigeria listed alongside Burkina Faso, Pakistan, Niger, and
the Democratic Republic of the Congo as accounting for 70 percent of global
terrorism deaths.
Despite ongoing military and counterterrorism efforts,
Nigeria continues to face a persistent and evolving insurgency challenge,
placing it among the world’s most affected nations.
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