Nigeria has risen to fourth place worldwide in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), amid a significant escalation in terrorist activities across the country.
According to the latest report released by the Institute for Economics & Peace, terror incidents in Nigeria increased sharply by 43%, with 171 attacks recorded in 2025 compared to 120 in 2024.
The country now ranks behind Pakistan, Burkina Faso, and Niger on the global index.
The surge in attacks has also led to a rise in fatalities, with terror-related deaths climbing by 46% to 750, making 2025 the deadliest year Nigeria has experienced since 2020. The report attributes the majority of the violence to Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram, which were responsible for 80% of all recorded deaths.
Civilians remain the most affected, accounting for 67% of casualties, while members of the military made up 19%.
Geographically, the crisis remains heavily concentrated in Borno State, which alone accounted for 67% of all attacks and 72% of the total deaths recorded in 2025.
Since 2007, terrorism has claimed more than 12,500 lives in Nigeria, highlighting the enduring and complex security challenges confronting the nation.
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