Nigeria has emerged as the fourth most terrorism-affected country in the world, following a sharp rise in terror-related fatalities, according to the 2026 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) released by the .
The report highlights Nigeria as recording the largest increase in terrorism deaths in 2025, with fatalities surging by 46 percent to 750. It attributes about 80 percent of these deaths to the activities of and .
Globally, terrorism remains heavily concentrated, with nearly 70 percent of all related deaths occurring in just five countries—, , , , and the . Nigeria and DR Congo recorded some of the highest increases in fatalities.
The GTI also revealed that Nigeria accounted for two of the 20 deadliest terrorist attacks worldwide in 2025, both occurring in .
One of the attacks took place on September 5, 2025, when gunmen stormed Darajamal village in Bama Local Government Area, killing 58 civilians and five soldiers. Security forces reportedly killed 30 of the attackers in a counter-operation. While no group officially claimed responsibility, the assault was widely linked to ISWAP.
In a separate incident on May 15, 2025, militants attacked Mallam Karamti and Kwatandashi villages in Kukawa Local Government Area. About 100 civilians were abducted, with 57 bodies later recovered and dozens still missing. The attack was attributed to a faction of Boko Haram.
Despite these developments, the report noted an overall global decline in terrorism. Deaths fell by 28 percent to 5,582, while the number of incidents dropped by 22 percent to 2,944—the lowest levels recorded since 2007.
However, the decline was uneven. Western countries experienced a sharp 280 percent increase in terrorism-related deaths, driven largely by political extremism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the global epicentre of terrorism, with six of the 10 most affected countries located in the region.
For the first time, Pakistan ranked as the most terrorism-impacted country, recording 1,139 deaths and over 1,000 incidents—its highest figures in over a decade.
The report also flagged a growing concern over youth radicalisation, revealing that terrorism-related investigations involving young people have tripled since 2021. In Western nations, lone actors were responsible for 93 percent of fatal attacks during the period.
Globally, the and its affiliates remained the deadliest network, accounting for nearly 17 percent of all attacks in 2025. Other major groups include , , and .
The GTI further observed a shift in attack patterns, noting that over 76 percent of terrorist incidents in 2025 occurred within 100 kilometres of international borders—an increase from less than 60 percent in 2007.
While improvements were recorded in 81 countries, the report warned that rising geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, could reverse recent gains.
It concluded that although global terrorism is declining, the worsening situation in countries like Nigeria highlights the urgent need for stronger counter-terrorism measures and sustained international cooperation.
