Nigeria has recently moved up to sixth place in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), reflecting an increase in its ranking from eighth place over the past two years. This shift highlights the persistent security challenges the country faces, despite efforts to curb terrorist activities.
According to the latest report released on March 5, 2025, Nigeria recorded a GTI score of 7.658. The most terrorism-affected country remains Burkina Faso, which leads the index with a score of 8.581. Other nations ranking high on the list include Pakistan (8.374), Syria (8.006), Mali (7.907), and Niger (7.776). Following Nigeria, Somalia (7.614), Israel (7.463), Afghanistan (7.262), and Cameroon (6.944) complete the top ten.
The report documented 565 terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria in 2024, indicating a concerning rise in fatalities over the past two years. While the number of deaths has significantly decreased from Nigeria’s peak of 2,101 fatalities in 2014, recent years have seen a troubling reversal of this trend. In 2022, fatalities dropped to a low of 392 but increased by 34% to 533 in 2023, and then further to 565 in 2024.
One of the key contributors to this violence is IS-Sahel, a terror group active in the Liptako-Gourma region, which spans Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The group has expanded its operations into additional areas, including Nigeria, carrying out 16 attacks in the country in 2024. In comparison, the group executed 12 attacks in Niger, six in Mali, and one in Burkina Faso.
The GTI report underscores that terrorism remains a persistent global concern, with an increasing number of countries affected by at least one terrorist attack in 2024. The number of impacted nations rose from 58 to 66, marking the highest level since 2018. Additionally, more countries are facing deteriorating security conditions, with 45 reporting an increased impact from terrorism, compared to 34 that recorded improvements. This marks the first time in seven years that more nations have seen worsening conditions rather than progress.
The Sahel region has become the global epicenter of terrorism, accounting for 51% of all terrorism-related deaths in 2024—a dramatic increase since 2019. The region recorded over 25,000 conflict-related deaths for the first time in the index’s history, with 3,885 attributed specifically to terrorism.
Despite Burkina Faso remaining the most terrorism-affected country, it has seen a decline in terrorist activity. Attacks dropped by 57%, and deaths decreased by 21% in 2024. However, the country still accounted for one-fifth of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide, signaling that while progress has been made, challenges remain.
Niger serves as a case study in the fragile nature of counterterrorism progress. In 2024, the country recorded the largest increase in terrorism-related deaths globally, surging by 94% to 930 fatalities. This sharp reversal from 2022, when Niger had shown significant improvements, underscores the difficulty of maintaining security gains in volatile regions.
These findings suggest that while some progress has been made in certain areas, sustaining long-term stability remains a challenge. The report warns that terrorism is evolving, with new threats emerging and security improvements proving difficult to maintain.
As Nigeria’s ranking in the global terrorism index rises, the need for strengthened counterterrorism efforts becomes increasingly urgent. Addressing the growing fatalities and mitigating escalating security threats will require a renewed commitment to effective strategies, regional cooperation, and sustainable security measures.
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