The Defence Headquarters has confirmed that it is currently reviewing Nigeria’s latest position on the Global Terrorism Index, following mounting concerns over the country’s deteriorating security situation. This development comes in the wake of the 2026 report, which placed Nigeria as the fourth most affected country by terrorism globally, a position that signals a troubling upward trend.
According to the latest rankings, Nigeria now trails behind Pakistan, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The progression reflects a steady decline in the country’s standing over recent years, moving from sixth place in 2025 and eighth position in both 2023 and 2024.
Analysts say the current ranking underscores a worsening security environment, despite repeated assurances from government officials that significant gains have been made in combating insurgency and terrorism across the country.
Data contained in the report paints a stark picture of escalating violence. Nigeria recorded a total of 750 terrorism-related deaths in 2025, alongside 171 separate incidents and 243 injuries, culminating in a Global Terrorism Index score of 7.792.
These figures represent a sharp and deeply concerning rise compared to the previous year. The number of attacks surged by 43 per cent, climbing from 120 incidents in 2024 to 171 in 2025, while fatalities increased by 46 per cent, marking the highest death toll recorded since 2020.
The report explicitly stated, “In 2025, Nigeria rose two places in the Index, reflecting the significant increase in terrorist activity in the country. Terror attacks in Nigeria increased by 43 per cent this year, from 120 incidents in 2024 to 171 in 2025. Deaths from terrorism have continued to rise, increasing by 46 per cent to 750 in 2025.
This marks the highest death toll since 2020, driven by internal instability as well as ongoing conflict between ISWAP and Boko Haram. Together, fatalities attributed to these groups accounted for 80 per cent of all terrorism-related deaths in the country in 2025.”
The report further highlighted that civilians bore the brunt of the violence, accounting for 67 per cent of all fatalities, a significant rise from 39 per cent recorded in 2020, indicating a shift in the nature and targets of terrorist attacks.
The data also revealed that military personnel made up 19 per cent of the total deaths, suggesting that terrorist groups are increasingly focusing on softer civilian targets rather than direct confrontations with security forces.
Among the various armed groups operating within the country, the Islamic State West Africa Province emerged as the deadliest, responsible for more than half of all attacks and fatalities recorded during the period under review.
When contacted for an official response, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Micheal Onoja, declined to provide immediate comments, stating, “No comments. We are studying the report to understand its parameters or criteria. Afterwards, we can comment.”
His response reflects a cautious approach by the military as it seeks to fully assess the methodology and implications of the report before issuing a formal position.
Meanwhile, political opposition to President Bola Tinubu has intensified in response to the report, with several parties criticising the administration’s handling of national security. The African Democratic Congress attributed the rising number of terrorist attacks and civilian casualties to what it described as a breakdown in governance under the current administration.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party outlined a three-pronged strategy aimed at addressing the crisis. This includes strengthening intelligence coordination among security agencies, decentralising policing structures to improve community-level security responses, and shifting from reactive approaches to more proactive, intelligence-driven operations.
The party characterised Nigeria’s latest ranking as a clear reflection of governance failures, declaring, “That is not an abstract statistic. It is a direct reflection of the failure of the Bola Tinubu-led APC government to secure the country. At a moment when Nigerians are grieving, and communities across the country are living under constant threat, Tinubu, his National Security Adviser, and the Minister of Defence are abroad.
The contrast is clear: a country in crisis, and a leadership that is absent. Nigerians should take note of this moment. It raises a fundamental question about Tinubu and the APC’s priorities. At a time that demands focus, discipline, and urgency, the Tinubu government appears more concerned with pageantry, paparazzi, and propaganda — rather than real performance.”
In a similar vein, the Peoples Democratic Party strongly condemned Nigeria’s ranking, describing it as a damning indictment of the administration led by the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The party’s National Working Committee, under the leadership of Tanimu Turaki, issued a statement through its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, asserting that the report reflects the worsening insecurity across the country and the government’s failure to fulfil its primary responsibility of protecting lives and property.
The PDP called on President Tinubu to deploy his widely acknowledged political acumen toward decisively addressing the nation’s security challenges. It stated, “The just-released Global Terrorism Index 2026 by the Institute for Economics and Peace indicates that our country, under the leadership of the APC-led government, has infamously earned a fourth position in the world on the impact of terrorism survey.
Nigeria and four other countries accounted for almost 70 per cent of deaths from terrorism. Nigeria also had one of the two largest increases in deaths from terrorism. While this report is not surprising to Nigerians, it is most painful that those who promised, were elected, and appointed to secure our country are wine and dining in a faraway land, while terrorists continue to kill and kidnap citizens rampantly.”
The party further argued that the findings of the report align closely with the everyday experiences of Nigerians, who, according to them, are facing unprecedented levels of insecurity in the current democratic era. It added, “In fact, under President Tinubu’s watch, insecurity has not just become very lucrative, it has attained a trillion-naira economy status.”
Adding to the chorus of concern, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, described Nigeria’s worsening security trajectory as “a painful indictment of failed leadership.”
In a post shared on his X handle on Thursday, Obi lamented that while many countries around the world are experiencing a decline in terrorist activities, Nigeria appears to be moving in the opposite direction.
He attributed the deteriorating situation to what he described as “misplaced priorities, weak governance, corruption, a lack of rule of law, and persistent neglect of security.” Obi pointed to ongoing insurgency by Boko Haram, the growing threat posed by ISWAP, widespread kidnappings, and frequent attacks on rural communities by bandits as clear evidence of systemic failure.
He criticised authorities for what he termed the normalisation of tragedy in the country, contrasting it with progress made in other parts of the world.
In his words, “Nigerians are dying daily while those in power continue to feast. What is the purpose of government if it cannot protect lives? Why are we normalising tragedy while other nations make progress? This is not the Nigeria we should accept. We cannot continue down this path. It is time to move from excuses to action, and from failure to measurable progress. A safe and secure Nigeria is not too much to ask; it is the right of every citizen, and it must be delivered.”