By Esi-ife Arogundade
Nigeria has been ranked sixth in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, now holding a score of 7.658, a rise from its eighth position in 2023 and 2024. The index, which was released on March 5, 2025, highlights a troubling trend in terrorism-related violence in the country.
Burkina Faso leads the index with a score of 8.581, followed by Pakistan (8.374), Syria (8.006), Mali (7.907), and Niger (7.776), which occupy the top five spots. Somalia (7.614), Israel (7.463), and Afghanistan (7.262) round out the rankings from seventh to ninth, while Cameroon, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, India, Colombia, and Russia fill the remaining slots down to sixteenth.
The report indicates a decline in global terrorism deaths, which have fallen by nearly a third since their peak in 2015. Notably, Iraq and Nigeria have seen the most significant reductions, with fatalities in Nigeria decreasing from a high of 2,101 in 2014 to just 392 in 2022, the lowest level recorded since 2011. However, this positive trend has reversed, with deaths in Nigeria increasing by 34 percent in 2023 to 533, and further climbing to 565 in 2024.
The report also details the intensified activity of the IS-Sahel group, which has expanded its operations beyond the Liptako-Gourma tri-border area of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to include Nigeria and other neighbouring countries. In 2024, IS-Sahel was responsible for 16 attacks in Nigeria, 12 in Niger, six in Mali, and one in Burkina Faso.
Moreover, the study reveals that the total number of countries affected by at least one terrorist attack has surged, increasing from 58 to 66—marking the highest figure since 2018. “Terrorism remains a persistent global threat,” the report emphasizes, noting that 2024 was marked by fluctuating patterns and evolving challenges.
Of the countries surveyed, 45 reported a deterioration in security due to terrorism, while only 34 experienced improvements, highlighting a concerning trend for the first time in seven years. Significantly, the Sahel region has emerged as the epicentre of global terrorism, accounting for 51 percent of all terrorism-related deaths in 2024—a striking nearly tenfold rise since 2019.
The total deaths attributed to conflict in the region exceeded 25,000 for the first time since the index began, with 3,885 deaths directly linked to terrorism. Although Burkina Faso remains the country most impacted by terrorism, it saw declines in both deaths and attacks in 2024, with fatalities dropping by 21 percent and attacks plummeting by 57 percent. Despite these reductions, Burkina Faso still accounted for one-fifth of all terrorism deaths worldwide. The report underscores the fragile progress made in counterterrorism efforts, citing Niger as a notable example of ongoing challenges in the region.
