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.

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has called for a strategic shift in Nigeria’s fight against insecurity, urging authorities to complement military operations with sustained investments in human capital development and social cohesion.

In his Eid al-Fitr message to Muslims across the country, Bamidele congratulated Nigerians on the successful completion of Ramadan, describing the holy month as a period marked by sacrifice, reflection, charity, and devotion to God.

He noted that the lessons of Ramadan—tolerance, compassion, and self-discipline—should guide both individual conduct and government policies, particularly at a time of global uncertainty and domestic security challenges.

The Senate Leader referenced recent security incidents, including bomb explosions in Maiduguri, which resulted in loss of lives and injuries, stressing that such tragedies underscore the urgent need for a more comprehensive approach to national security.

While commending Nigeria’s defence, intelligence, and security agencies for their resilience, Bamidele emphasised that reliance on military force alone—often described as a kinetic approach—cannot guarantee lasting peace.

“Time and experience have shown that kinetic operations alone cannot guarantee the peace and stability of our nation,” he stated.

He therefore advocated a broader, multi-dimensional strategy that addresses the root causes of violent extremism.

According to him, religious leaders must promote tolerance and desist from teachings that could incite radicalisation, while socio-cultural leaders should prioritise dialogue in resolving inter-ethnic conflicts rather than resorting to violence.

Bamidele also highlighted the role of subnational governments, noting that the fight against insecurity is not solely the responsibility of the federal government. He urged state governments to prioritise human capital development by investing in education, healthcare, nutrition, and social protection systems.

He added that creating opportunities for innovation and creativity among young people would help reduce vulnerability to extremist ideologies.

At the legislative level, the Senate Leader disclosed that the National Assembly is pursuing a multi-pronged approach to strengthen national security and development.

He revealed that the Senate has constituted an ad-hoc committee on a National Security Summit aimed at identifying the root causes of insecurity across the country. He also pointed to the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution, which he said would include amendments to grant subnational governments greater authority in managing security within their jurisdictions.

Bamidele reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to enacting laws that support the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

He concluded by extending warm Eid al-Fitr wishes to Muslims nationwide, urging Nigerians to embody the values of peace, unity, and mutual respect beyond the Ramadan season.

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, backed by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), have neutralised no fewer than 80 insurgents in a coordinated night operation in Borno State.

The engagement occurred in Mallam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area, where terrorists reportedly attempted to infiltrate the 68 Battalion’s defensive position in the early hours of the day.

According to the operation’s spokesman, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, the attackers advanced on foot with drone support from the Duguri axis but were met with a well-coordinated “offensive-defensive” response by troops at about 12:50 a.m.

Among those killed were three senior commanders identified as Abdulrahman Gobara, Mallam Ba Yuram and Abou Ayyuba, alongside several other fighters.

Uba said the troops, supported by precision close air support from the NAF and allied Nigerien air assets, successfully disrupted and routed the insurgents.

He noted that the operation led to the recovery of a significant cache of weapons and equipment, including 52 AK-47 rifles, eight PKT machine guns, seven RPG launchers, five general-purpose machine guns, over 3,000 rounds of ammunition, improvised explosive devices, communication radios and drone components.

Despite the scale of the attack, only four soldiers were reported wounded, as the military maintained minimal casualties.

Military authorities described the operation as a major blow to insurgent command structures and operational capacity in the region, adding that further battle damage assessments are ongoing.

In a related development, NAF airstrikes conducted earlier targeted terrorist hideouts in Abirma and the southern Lake Chad axis. According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, surveillance identified concealed insurgent positions under dense vegetation, which were subsequently destroyed using precision-guided munitions.

The strikes are said to have significantly degraded the terrorists’ ability to use the area as a staging ground for attacks across the Lake Chad Basin.