ABUJA—Nigeria has climbed to sixth place in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), moving up from eighth position in the previous two years, as terrorism-related deaths in the country continue to rise.
The latest report, released on March 5, ranked Burkina Faso as the most impacted nation with a score of 8.581, followed by Pakistan (8.374), Syria (8.006), Mali (7.907), and Niger (7.776). Nigeria, with a score of 7.658, recorded 565 terrorism-related deaths in 2024, reflecting a steady increase in fatalities.
“Globally, deaths from terrorism have declined by almost a third since the peak in 2015, with Iraq and Nigeria recording the largest decreases,” the report stated. “However, fatalities in Nigeria rose from 392 in 2022 to 533 in 2023, and further to 565 in 2024.”
The study highlighted the growing influence of IS-Sahel, which has expanded its activities beyond the Liptako-Gourma region—spanning Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—into Algeria, Benin, and Nigeria. The group carried out 16 attacks in Nigeria in 2024, along with operations in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
The report also noted a rise in the number of countries affected by terrorism, increasing from 58 in 2023 to 66 in 2024, the highest since 2018.
“Terrorism remains a persistent global threat, with 2024 marking another year of shifting patterns and evolving challenges,” the report stated. “More countries saw a deterioration in security, with 45 reporting an increased impact from terrorism, compared to 34 that saw improvements.”
The Sahel region has become the epicenter of global terrorism, accounting for 51 percent of all terrorism-related deaths in 2024, a nearly tenfold increase since 2019. The report noted that Burkina Faso, despite remaining the most affected country, saw a decline in both attacks and fatalities.
“Nigeria’s rising rank underscores the ongoing security challenges in the region,” analysts said, as the country grapples with the continued expansion of extremist groups.
