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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have knocked the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu as Nigeria emerged the fourth most impacted country according to the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report released by the Institute for Economics and Peace.
The report claimed Nigeria suffered the 10th deadliest terrorist attack in 2025, referencing 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.
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 percent of attacks and 72 percent of deaths in 2025.”
GTI stated that civilians continued to be the most targeted group in 2025, accounting for 67 percent of fatalities, while military forces represented 19 percent. It said the percentage has been steadily increasing over the last five years, highlighting a clear shift in terrorist targeting patterns in the country.
The country reported 750 terrorism-related deaths in 2025, a sharp 46 per cent increase from the previous year. Analysts link the surge to intensified clashes involving insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), compounded by broader internal security lapses.
Reacting yesterday, the PDP said insecurity in the country has attained a trillion-naira economy status, making it lucrative under the President Tinubu administration while ADC said Nigeria’s latest ranking is evidence that the administration has failed to secure the country.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party said the GTI report did not come as a surprise.
“While this report is not surprising to Nigerians, it is most painful that people who promised and were elected and appointed to secure our country are wining, dining, and dancing in a faraway land whilst terrorists are killing and kidnapping citizens rampantly.
“This global report aligns with the daily lived reality of Nigerians, who are now more insecure than they have ever been in this Fourth Republic. In fact, under President Tinubu’s watch, insecurity has not just become very lucrative, it has attained a trillion-naira economy status.
“We call on the President and the entire security hierarchy to stop performing reactive responses that have defined post-attack communications and rather adopt a whole-of-society approach towards solving insecurity.
“Furthermore, they should evolve programmes and policies capable of delivering negative peace (cessation of attacks and incidents) immediately and providing the basis for positive peace (voluntary and unforced harmonious co-existence).
“It needs reminding that the primary duty of every Government is the protection of lives and property-a task that this administration has consistently failed glaringly.
“We appeal to the President to deploy his famed political ‘mastery’ to provide a solution to the security of lives and property. Nigerians are tired of being killed for no reason.”
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The ADC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the report indicated not just a security lapse but a breakdown in governance in the country.
The ADC suggested a three-point strategy focused on improved intelligence coordination, decentralised policing and a shifting from reactive responses to preventive and intelligence-led security operations, to tackling the security challenges in the country.
The ADC expressed dismay that at a time Nigerians are grieving and communities across the country are living under constant threat, President Tinubu, the National Security Adviser and the Minister of Defence are abroad.
“Against the deeply troubling backdrop of yet another deadly terrorist attack in Borno State, where dozens of Nigerians have been killed and many more injured, the ADC. has reviewed the newly released Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026, which delivers a clear and troubling verdict on the state of insecurity in Nigeria today.
“Nigeria is now ranked the 4th most terrorism-affected country in the world. That is not an abstract statistic. It is a direct reflection of the failure of the Bola Tinubu-led APC government to secure the country. At a moment when Nigerians are grieving and communities across the country are living under constant threat, Tinubu, his National Security Adviser, and the Minister of Defence are abroad. The contrast is clear: a country in crisis, and a leadership that is absent, “ the opposition party stated.
The ADC noted that the absence of President Tinubu and top security officials, in the country at a critical time as this, raises questions about the President and the All Progressives Congress’ ( APC) priorities.
It noted that “at a time that demands focus, discipline, and urgency, the Tinubu government appears more concerned with pageantry, paparazzi, and propaganda — rather than real performance .
The Global Terrorism Index confirms what Nigerians already know from lived experience. Terror attacks have surged by 43 percent, rising from 120 incidents in 2024 to 171 in 2025. Violence is increasingly concentrated in Borno State, which now accounts for 67 percent of attacks and 72 percent of deaths. Most concerning, civilians now make up 67 percent of those killed. That is a measure of how exposed ordinary Nigerians have become.
“The threat to Nigerian families is also evolving. ISWAP is responsible for over half of all attacks and deaths across the country. Boko Haram remains active and deadly. New groups like Lakurawa are emerging, showing that Tinubu’s national security strategy is not containing the insecurity problem but expanding it.
“These outcomes point to something deeper than isolated security lapses. They reflect a breakdown in governance. The GTI identifies weak governance, internal instability, and economic hardship as key drivers of terrorism. That is not a political talking point. It is the assessment of an independent international body.
“A government that is truly focused on protecting its people would demonstrate coordinated and visible leadership during crises, strengthen local security architecture and address the economic and social conditions that fuel recruitment into extremist groups. Instead what Nigerians see is a leadership class that is more preoccupied with political positioning than with the urgent business of governance.”
The opposition added that if it were in power, it would take three decisive steps to fix the country’s broken security system and restore safety across the country.
“First, we will fix coordination. Nigeria does not lack intelligence, it lacks coordination. Today, agencies operate in silos, warnings are missed, and response is delayed. The ADC will establish a legally mandated national intelligence coordination system, led by a Coordinator of National Intelligence, and a unified Joint Terrorism Task Force. The goal is simple: no more missed signals, no more confusion, no more excuses.
“Second, we will bring security closer to the people. Nigeria cannot be policed effectively from Abuja alone. The ADC will implement a decentralized policing system with federal, state, and community layers, each with clear roles and national standards. This will ensure faster response, clearer accountability, and security that reflects the local realities of the 774 local government areas.
“Third, we will shift from reaction to prevention. Today, Nigeria reacts to attacks after lives are lost. The ADC will build an intelligence-driven, preventive security system that is powered by data, early warning systems, and rapid response units in every state. Our focus will be to stop attacks before they happen, not merely respond after tragedy strikes.”
