Nigeria has risen to sixth place in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, a stark indicator of the nation’s escalating security challenges. Hobnob News reports on the alarming findings of the index, which also highlights the Sahel region as the new epicenter of global terrorism.
According to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, released on March 5, 2025, Nigeria now holds a score of 7.658, up from eighth position in the previous two years. Burkina Faso tops the index, followed by Pakistan, Syria, Mali, and Niger.
The report reveals a troubling trend of increasing terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria, with 565 fatalities recorded in 2024. “Globally, deaths from terrorism have declined by almost a third since the peak in 2015, with Iraq and Nigeria recording the largest decreases. However, fatalities increased by 34 percent in 2023 to 533, and further to 565 in 2024,” the report stated.
A significant concern is the expansion of IS-Sahel’s activities, which now extend to Algeria, Benin, and Nigeria. In 2024, the group carried out numerous attacks across the region, highlighting its growing influence.
The Sahel region has emerged as the global epicenter of terrorism, accounting for 51 percent of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide in 2024. “Five of the ten countries most impacted by terrorism are in the Sahel,” the report noted. Conflict-related deaths in the region surpassed 25,000 for the first time, with 3,885 attributed to terrorism.
While Burkina Faso saw a decline in deaths and attacks, Niger experienced a dramatic surge, with a 94 percent increase in terrorism-related fatalities. “The case of Niger suggests that the gains made in Burkina Faso may be temporary,” the report cautioned.
The index also highlighted the increasing number of countries affected by terrorism, with 66 nations experiencing at least one terrorist attack in 2024. “Terrorism remains a persistent global threat, with 2024 marking another year of shifting patterns and evolving challenges,” the report concluded.
The findings of the Global Terrorism Index underscore the urgent need for concerted efforts to address the root causes of terrorism and enhance security measures in affected regions. Hobnob News will continue to monitor the evolving security landscape.
