Nigeria Ranks Sixth In 2022 Global Terrorism Index

Nigeria has been ranked sixth out of ten countries on the 2022 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) released by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP).

The report said Nigeria, as one of the 10 countries most impacted by terrorism, recorded an improvement in the ranking from 2020 to 2021.

According to the index, Nigeria dropped two places from the fourth position in 2021 to six in 2022, which is an improvement for the West African country.

The report disclosed that the total deaths from terrorism in Nigeria fell to 448 in 2021, the lowest level since 2011, adding that terror-related casualties dropped by almost half compared with the previous year.

GTI reports that the number of terrorist attacks increased by 49 percent between 2020 and 2021, with ISWAP claiming 36 percent of the attacks.

It stated that Boko Haram was responsible for eight percent of the attacks while 44 percent were not attributed to any group.

The report reads: “Total deaths from terrorism in Nigeria fell to 448 in 2021, the lowest level since 2011.

“Terror-related casualties dropped by almost half compared with the previous year. However, the number of terrorist attacks increased by 49 per cent between 2020 and 2021. 36 percent of attacks were claimed by ISWA, Boko Haram being responsible for eight per cent and 44 percent not attributed to any group.

“In 2020, ISWAP became the deadliest terrorist group in Nigeria. The decline of Boko Haram continued into 2021, with Boko Haram responsible for only 69 deaths, a decrease of 77 percent from the previous year. This is the lowest number of deaths by the group for a decade. Boko Haram’s decline has resulted in a substantial improvement in terrorism in Borno State, which experienced a decrease of 71 percent in terrorism deaths when compared with the prior year.

“Attacks in the state also decreased from 121 to 86 respectively, a decrease of 30 per cent. The state, however, remains the hardest hit region in Nigeria for terrorism, accounting for half of all terror-related deaths in 2021. Boko Haram’s decline coincides with a number of factors, most significantly the death of the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau. Shekau, who committed suicide by detonating an explosives vest during a confrontation with ISWA in May 2021.

“Given the demise of their leader, Shekau’s followers were faced with the decision to either continue Shekau’s ideology or join ISWAP. It has been reported that as many as former Boko Haram commanders have joined ISWAP after Shekau’s death. Attacks by ISWAP as well as counter-terrorism efforts by the Nigerian government and foreign military forces have significantly weakened Boko Haram’s impact in Nigeria.”

The report stated that the Nigeria Police Force and Nigerian Correctional Service overtook both military and civilians as the most attacked group of 2021.

It said the attacks were recorded in clashes between law enforcement and separatist groups such as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).