Nigeria has been ranked as the fourth most terrorised country in the world, according to the latest Global Terrorism Index released by the Institute for Economics and Peace. The report places Nigeria behind Pakistan, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic, but ahead of countries long associated with violent extremism, including Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq.

The index shows that Nigeria is now the Sahel country with the highest number of terrorism-related deaths and incidents in the period under review. It notes that 70 per cent of global terror fatalities occurred in just five countries: Nigeria, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Pakistan.

Nigeria also recorded the largest increase in terrorism deaths, with fatalities rising by 46 per cent to 750. The report attributes roughly four out of every five terrorism deaths in the country to Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram, underscoring the enduring threat posed by jihadist insurgency in the northeast and expanding violence across the north and central regions.

While five Sahel countries recorded declines in both deaths and incidents compared with the previous year, Nigeria was identified as the only state in the region where both indicators rose. Overall, there were 237 more terrorism deaths in Nigeria than in the preceding year, alongside 243 people injured and 171 recorded incidents.

The Global Terrorism Index links the surge in attacks to a combination of ideological extremism and criminal violence, including banditry, kidnapping and clashes between armed groups and security forces. It notes that Nigeria has experienced a steady rise in terrorism-related deaths since 2022, reversing earlier gains made against insurgent groups.

The report also highlights increased activity by Islamic State affiliates, which prompted US-backed strikes on IS-linked targets in northwestern Nigeria. Despite years of military operations and regional cooperation, the findings suggest that militant networks remain resilient, adapting their tactics and expanding into new territories.

Nigeria has appeared on the Global Terrorism Index every year since 2011. Over time, civilians have become the most targeted group, bearing the brunt of attacks on villages, markets, places of worship and transport routes. Analysts say the latest ranking underscores the urgency of comprehensive security reforms, improved intelligence, and long-term investment in governance and development to address the root causes of extremism.