The latest ranking of Nigeria in the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) calls for serious concern. It is worrisome that all the efforts of our security agencies to tackle the problem appear to have yielded little dividends. In the latest report released on March 5, 2025, Nigeria scored 7.658 to emerge the sixth most terrorism affected-country in the 2025 GTI. This indicates that the country moved up from its eighth position in 2023 and 2024.
The 2025 report noted that the country recorded 565 terrorism-related deaths in 2024, an increase in fatalities over the previous two years. In 2022, the fatalities were 392. It rose to 533 in 2023. The peak was in 2014 when fatalities reached 2,101 deaths. The report classified the Sahel region as the global epicentre of terrorism, accounting for 51 per cent of all terrorism-related deaths in 2024. Burkina Faso remains most terrorism-impacted country, accounting for one-fifth of all terrorism deaths globally. It scored 8.581 to top the list. It is followed by Pakistan (8.374), Syria (8.006), Mali (7.907) and Niger (7.776). According to the report, countries like Somalia (7.614), Israel (7.463) and Afghanistan (7.262) performed better than Nigeria.
The Nigerian military rejected the report, saying it doubted its credibility. Director of Defence Media Operations, Markus Kangye, said the Nigerian troops killed 92 terrorists, including a key terrorist commander, Abba Alai; arrested 111 criminals and rescued 75 hostages within a week. He assured that the Nigerian military would continue to push back against insurgents and criminal elements in the country.
Truly, Nigerians have been traumatized by all manner of terrorists in the country. Boko Haram, Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), killer herdsmen and kidnappers have made life unbearable for the citizens. In the North-West, a new terrorists group called Lakurawa, emerged last year with headquarters in Sokoto and Kebbi states. They have joined in the killing and maiming of Nigerians. In recent times, they have attacked villages in the North-West and across the border in Niger and killed dozens of people. They also impose taxes on cattle.
In its 2024 Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey conducted recently, the National Bureau of Statistics reported that the North-West topped the list of regions where kidnapping was prevalent in Nigeria. In the report, the NBS noted that over 2.2 million kidnap incidents took place in Nigeria between May 2023 and April 2024. Over N2.2 trillion was paid to kidnappers as ransom.
It has not been easy for our security agencies to completely eradicate terrorism for some obvious reasons. At first, these terrorist organisations have easy access to humongous funds with which they prosecute their orgy of killings in Nigeria. Apart from the external funding they get from international terrorist groups, they make humongous money from the ransom they collect from kidnapping. With this, they buy more sophisticated weapons that can outmatch the ones our security operatives use.
Besides, some young men find joining terrorist groups attractive because there is no job for them. As of the first quarter of 2024, the rate of unemployment in Nigeria is 8.4 per cent. With no skills to market and no prospects of jobs anywhere, some of these young men find in Boko Haram, Lakurawa and similar groups a veritable source of livelihood. Lakurawa reportedly pays up to N1million to new recruits.
In some cases, there are some saboteurs in the security agencies. They reveal information about movement of troops to the terrorists, thereby jeopardizing the operations of our soldiers. In our previous editorials on this issue, we had canvassed for the reinvigoration of our military intelligence. Asymmetrical warfare has gone beyond shooting of guns. Strong intelligence sharing among the security agencies will go a long way in solving the problem. Our troops should find a way of integrating with the local populace with a view to getting certain information about the movement and operations of the terrorist groups.
As a matter of priority, the Federal Government must beef up our defence budget. We must source and buy the most sophisticated weapons available with a view to facing these terrorists head on. Welfare of the security agents is also very paramount. Giving sophisticated weapons to ill-motivated soldiers will be counter-productive because they will not give their best. Citizens should cooperate with our security agents by giving vital information about the terrorists. Some of them live among the people. They gather information and go back to their hideout from where they launch their despicable attacks.
Terrorism is an evil wind blowing in different parts of the world, especially in the Middle East. It is not easy to eliminate considering the vast network of terrorist groups. But with the right decisions and encouragement of the soldiers, it could be tackled. One of the most painful things in life is losing a dear one whose only crime is being in a country that cannot protect him. We can’t continue to lose precious lives to terrorists.