Nigeria has ranked fourth among countries most impacted by terrorism, as the Sahel tightens its grip as the world’s deadliest region for extremist violence, according to the latest Global Terrorism Index.
The report, released by the Institute for Economics and Peace, shows that nearly half of all terrorism-related deaths globally in 2025 occurred within the Sahel, marking the third consecutive year the region has led the world in fatalities.
The index, which evaluates 163 countries based on the frequency of attacks, deaths, injuries, and hostage-taking, recorded 5,582 terrorism-related deaths in 2025, down from 7,555 in 2024. Despite the overall decline, the Sahel — a vast semi-arid stretch beneath the Sahara — remains the focal point of global terror activity.
The report highlights a long-term shift in the geography of terrorism, noting that the Sahel’s share of global deaths has increased dramatically over the years, rising from just one percent in 2007 to nearly half today.
At the country level, Pakistan emerged as the most affected nation in 2025, recording 1,139 deaths and over 1,000 incidents — the highest figures since 2013. The surge has been linked to renewed militant activity following political changes in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Burkina Faso, which previously topped the rankings, dropped to second place despite recording the steepest decline in fatalities, falling 45 percent to 846 deaths. The reduction was largely attributed to fewer civilian casualties, as armed groups increasingly shifted attacks toward military targets.
In the Sahel region, Niger climbed to third position globally after recording 703 deaths, more than half of them civilians, amid a rise in attacks.
Nigeria moved up to fourth place, with 750 people killed in 2025 — a 46 percent increase from the previous year and the country’s highest death toll since 2020. The report links the rise to persistent internal instability and ongoing clashes between extremist factions, notably ISWAP and Boko Haram.
Meanwhile, Mali ranked fifth, recording 341 deaths, a notable drop from 604 in 2024.
The report identifies the Islamic State group and the Al-Qaeda-linked JNIM as the primary actors behind much of the violence in the Sahel. It also warns that extremist groups are expanding their reach դեպի coastal West Africa, with Benin rising significantly in the rankings.
Despite a modest global decline in terrorism deaths, the findings underscore a deepening crisis in the Sahel, where insecurity continues to spread and reshape the global threat landscape.
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