Nigeria has climbed to the sixth position in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, marking a significant rise from eighth place in the last two years. The latest report, released on March 5, 2025, presents a grim picture of Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, revealing that 565 people lost their lives to terrorist attacks in 2024. This represents a worrying increase from the 533 deaths recorded in 2023, signaling a persistent threat despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts.
The Global Terrorism Index, compiled annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace, evaluates the impact of terrorism by analyzing attacks, fatalities, injuries, and destruction. Nigeria’s latest ranking places it among the most affected nations, trailing only Burkina Faso, Pakistan, Syria, Mali, and Niger, which rank first to fifth. Other countries listed in the top sixteen include Somalia, Israel, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, India, Colombia, and Russia.
Despite a global decline in terrorism-related deaths since their peak in 2015, Nigeria and several other African nations are experiencing a resurgence of extremist violence. Experts attribute this increase to the expansion of terrorist groups, weaknesses in security strategies, and worsening socio-economic conditions that fuel insurgency. The report highlights that the Sahel region has become the epicenter of global terrorism, with over half of all terrorism-related deaths in 2024 occurring in this part of Africa.
One of the most concerning revelations in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index is the expansion of IS-Sahel, a deadly faction linked to the Islamic State. The group, primarily active in the Liptako-Gourma region bordering Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, has now extended its operations into Nigeria, Algeria, and Benin. In 2024 alone, IS-Sahel launched 16 attacks in Nigeria, 12 in Niger, 6 in Mali, and 1 in Burkina Faso, demonstrating its growing influence and capability. This development poses a serious threat to regional security and raises fears that Nigeria could become a major target for extremist groups operating across West Africa.
Nigeria had made significant progress in reducing terrorism-related deaths over the past decade, with fatalities dropping from a peak of 2,101 in 2014 to a record low of 392 in 2022. However, the situation has worsened in recent years. Fatalities surged by 34 percent in 2023, rising to 533 deaths, and climbed further to 565 in 2024. This increase highlights the resilience of terror networks and the challenges facing the Nigerian government in its counterterrorism efforts. The spread of violent extremism has led to widespread displacement, economic decline, and growing insecurity, with thousands of people forced to flee their homes due to relentless attacks by insurgents.
The Sahel region has now overtaken the Middle East as the world’s deadliest terrorism hotspot. The region recorded over 25,000 conflict-related deaths in 2024, with 3,885 attributed to terrorism. Five of the ten most terrorism-affected countries in the world are in the Sahel, underscoring the scale of the crisis. Burkina Faso, despite being the most impacted country, saw a decline in both fatalities and attacks in 2024, suggesting that counterterrorism efforts there have had some success. However, the fragility of these gains raises concerns about the sustainability of security improvements in the region.
Niger, which had previously shown progress in reducing terrorism, experienced the largest increase in terrorism-related deaths globally in 2024. Fatalities surged by 94 percent, reaching 930 deaths, reversing the improvements made in previous years. Analysts warn that this sharp rise suggests that terrorist groups are shifting their focus, and that similar setbacks could occur in Nigeria if counterterrorism efforts are not intensified. The situation in Niger serves as a warning that gains made in one country can be quickly undone if extremist groups are allowed to regroup and exploit security gaps in neighboring nations.
The worsening security situation in Nigeria demands urgent and decisive action. Military and law enforcement agencies must strengthen intelligence-sharing and regional cooperation to combat the cross-border movement of terrorist groups. There is a need for a comprehensive approach that includes military operations, community engagement, and economic development in areas vulnerable to extremism. The government must address the root causes of terrorism, including poverty, unemployment, and weak governance, which provide fertile ground for insurgent recruitment. Without sustained efforts to tackle these challenges, Nigeria risks further deterioration in its security landscape, with devastating consequences for its people and economy.
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