Nigeria’s security crisis worsened in 2025, with new data showing a sharp rise in terrorist attacks and related deaths.
According to the 2026 Global Terrorism Index, Nigeria climbed two places to rank fourth globally, reflecting increased terrorist activity across the country.
The report revealed that terror incidents rose by 43 per cent, from 120 in 2024 to 171 in 2025, while deaths increased by 46 per cent to 750 fatalities—the highest toll recorded since 2020.
Much of the violence is attributed to extremist groups such as Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram, which together account for about 80 per cent of terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria, with their activities largely concentrated in the northeast.
The report identified Borno State as the epicentre of the crisis, recording 67 per cent of attacks and 72 per cent of deaths in 2025 alone.
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In contrast to regional trends, Nigeria remains the only country in sub-Saharan Africa to record increases in both attacks and fatalities, even as several Sahel nations reported declines.
The surge follows a steady rise in terrorism-related deaths since 2022, with 2025 recording 237 more fatalities than the previous year.
This escalation has been linked to a combination of ideological extremism and criminal violence.
Notably, attacks linked to the Islamic State group spiked significantly, jumping from 20 incidents in 2024 to 92 in 2025.
Globally, terrorism remains concentrated in a few countries, with Burkina Faso, Pakistan, Nigeria, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounting for about 70 per cent of total fatalities.
Despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts, Nigeria continues to rank among the world’s most affected countries, underscoring the persistent challenges in tackling insecurity.