Nigeria has been named as the country that suffered the 10th deadliest terrorist attack in 2025, in a report compiled by Global Terrorism Index (GTI).

The report cited the killing of 58 villagers and five soldiers by terrorists during a September 5, 2025, attack on Darajamal village, Bama Local Government Area, Borno State.

The organisation, however, hailed efforts by the Nigerian Army, which led to the death of 30 of the terrorists, whose organisation were yet-to-be-identified as of the time of filing this report.

GTI stated that 70 per cent of the deaths from terrorism occurred in only five countries: Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It said Nigeria saw the largest increase in deaths, which were 237 higher in 2025.

“Six of the 10 countries most impacted by terrorism are in sub-Saharan Africa, now the global epicentre of terrorism,” the report said.

GTI stated that Nigeria recorded the largest increase in terms of terrorism in 2025, with fatalities rising by 46 per cent to 750. It said Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram were responsible for 80 per cent of all terrorism in the country.

“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. Terrorist activity this year was heavily concentrated in the northeastern state of Borno, which experienced 67 per cent of attacks and 72 per cent of deaths in 2025,” it said.

GTI stated that civilians continued to be the most targeted group in 2025, accounting for 67 per cent of fatalities, while military forces represented 19 per cent. It said the percentage has been steadily increasing over the last five years, highlighting a clear shift in terrorist targeting patterns in the country.

Comparatively, in 2020, civilians accounted for 39 per cent of terrorism-related deaths, almost equalling military fatalities. Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) reclaimed its position as Nigeria’s deadliest terrorist group this year. In 2025, the group was responsible for over half of all attacks and deaths in the country. Despite a decrease in attacks in recent years, only claiming 20 in 2024, ISWAP has re-escalated and carried out 92 attacks this year, resulting in 384 deaths.

Despite being surpassed by ISWAP, Boko Haram continued to be active and increasingly lethal in Nigeria this year. The group carried out 43 attacks that resulted in 213 fatalities, compared to 26 attacks and 166 deaths in 2024. They also claimed responsibility for Nigeria’s second most lethal terror attack of 2025, when armed militants raided the neighbouring villages of Mallam Karamti and Kwatandashi in Kukawa local government area, Borno State. Approximately 100 civilians were rounded up and taken into the forest, with 57 bodies later recovered and 70 individuals still missing, according to local press reports. Lakurawa, a relatively new terrorist group that emerged in 2024 as an affiliate of the Islamic State Sahel Province, recorded ten attacks and 74 deaths this year. This is a sharp escalation from three attacks and two deaths in 2024.

Conflict over territory and internal factional fighting within and between Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to shape Nigeria’s security landscape. Furthermore, the country also faces significant economic challenges that have fuelled social unrest and weakened governance, conditions that often facilitate terrorist recruitment and escalate militant activity.

GTI highlighted that the continued escalation in violence and terrorist activities in Nigeria highlights the urgent need for increased counterterrorism initiatives, as well as heightened measures to improve internal stability. (The Guardian)

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