Nigeria Ranks Fourth in Global Terrorism Index 2026
Nigeria has been ranked as the fourth most terrorised country in the world according to the 2026 Global Terrorism Index released by the Institute for Economics and Peace. This announcement came shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to Nigeria from an official visit to the United Kingdom.
Escalating Violence and Fatalities
The report reveals a stark increase in terrorist activity, with 750 Nigerians losing their lives to terrorism in 2025, marking a 46 per cent rise from the previous year. Recorded terrorist incidents surged to 171 in 2025, up from 120 in 2024, indicating a sharp escalation in violence across the nation.
Globally, Pakistan, Burkina Faso, and Niger occupy the top three positions, with Nigeria moving up two places from sixth in 2024 to fourth in 2025. The North-East region remains the epicentre of extremist violence, primarily led by Boko Haram and ISWAP, while insecurity has spread to the North-West and Middle Belt due to banditry and farmer-herder clashes.
Concentration of Attacks and Civilian Impact
Borno state alone accounted for 67 per cent of attacks and 72 per cent of deaths, highlighting the intense concentration of violence in the northeastern area. Civilians were the primary targets, representing 67 per cent of fatalities, while military forces accounted for 19 per cent. The report notes that fatalities attributed to ISWAP and Boko Haram made up 80 per cent of all terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria in 2025.
Political Criticism and Calls for Reform
The Peoples Democratic Party described the report as a stark reflection of worsening insecurity under President Tinubu, with Ini Ememobong stating that violence has evolved into a lucrative, trillion-naira economy. Similarly, the African Democratic Congress criticised the administration, pointing to a 43 per cent increase in attacks and rising civilian casualties. Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi warned that emerging groups like Lakurawa, alongside Boko Haram and ISWAP, reflect systemic governance failures rather than isolated security lapses.
Both parties called for strategic security reforms, including establishing a national intelligence coordination system, decentralising policing, and shifting to preventive, intelligence-driven operations. They emphasised that protecting lives and property is the government's primary responsibility and urged tackling socio-economic conditions driving extremism.
Recent Incidents and Broader Context
The report serves as a sobering reminder of Nigeria's ongoing security challenges, even as efforts to restore stability continue. In a related incident, a double explosion struck Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, on March 16, 2026, suspected to be planted by Boko Haram terrorists using Improvised Explosive Devices. This event underscores the persistent threat and the urgent need for effective counter-terrorism measures.
