- Nigeria ranked sixth globally in terrorism impact for 2024.
- Boko Haram and ISWAP remain the major perpetrators.
- Sahel region accounts for 51% of global terrorism deaths.
Nigeria has been ranked as the sixth most affected country by terrorism in the world for 2024, according to the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report released on Wednesday.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the GTI, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, assesses the impact of terrorism in 163 countries based on key indicators such as the number of attacks, fatalities, injuries, and hostage incidents.
The report revealed that Nigeria was among the Sahelian nations that accounted for 51 percent of global terrorism deaths last year. It noted a sharp increase in terrorist activity across the Sahel region, with deaths rising nearly tenfold since 2009.
According to the GTI, Nigeria recorded 565 deaths from terrorism in 2024. While the number of attacks decreased by 37 percent, the report highlighted that fatalities still rose by six percent, reflecting a disturbing trend.
Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were identified as the leading terrorist groups responsible for attacks in Nigeria, with Yobe State cited as a major hotspot for violence.
The report attributed the persistence of terrorism in Nigeria to weak governance, ethnic tensions, and environmental challenges. It also pointed to competition over mineral resources, particularly gold and uranium, as a key driver of terrorist activities in the Sahel.
“Gold is a major flashpoint in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Niger supplies more than 25% of European uranium,” the report stated, adding that Russian influence in the region has increased while France has begun to withdraw.
Globally, Burkina Faso was ranked as the country most affected by terrorism, followed by Pakistan, Syria, Mali, and Niger. Nigeria was placed sixth, ahead of Somalia, Israel, Afghanistan, and Cameroon.
The report further noted that the highest number of terrorism-related deaths occurred in Pakistan, Syria, and Burkina Faso, with Burkina Faso alone accounting for one-fifth of all fatalities worldwide.
Meanwhile, the Islamic State (IS) remained the deadliest terrorist organization globally, responsible for 1,805 deaths across 22 countries in 2024—an increase from the previous year.
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