Nigeria has risen to fourth place in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), following a sharp escalation in terrorist activities across the country, according to a new report by the Institute for Economics & Peace.
The report indicates that terrorist attacks in Nigeria increased by 43 percent in 2025, with 171 incidents recorded compared to 120 in 2024. This surge has pushed the country up two places from its previous sixth position.
Nigeria now ranks behind Pakistan, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic, which occupy the top three positions on the index.
According to the findings, the majority of attacks were carried out by Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram, with both groups accounting for 80 percent of terrorism-related deaths in the country.
The report further highlights a growing human toll, with fatalities rising by 46 percent to 750 deaths in 2025—the highest level recorded since 2020. In addition, 243 people were injured in the attacks, bringing the total number of terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria since 2007 to 12,581.
Geographically, violence remained heavily concentrated in Borno State, which accounted for 67 percent of all attacks and 72 percent of total deaths recorded during the year.
Civilians continued to bear the brunt of the violence, representing 67 percent of those killed, while military personnel accounted for 19 percent. The report notes a sustained shift toward increased targeting of civilians over the past five years.
The GTI attributes the worsening security situation to ongoing internal instability and intensified clashes between ISWAP and Boko Haram, underscoring persistent challenges in counterterrorism efforts across Nigeria.