The Nigerian military has dismissed the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 report, which ranks Nigeria as the 6th most terrorism-affected country in the world. Military officials argue that local intelligence paints a different picture.
The GTI report, released on March 5, assigned Nigeria a terrorism impact score of 7.658, an increase from its 8th place ranking in 2023 and 2024. It recorded 565 terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria in 2024.
GTI Rankings and Nigerian Military’s Response
The GTI listed Burkina Faso as the most terrorism-affected country with a score of 8.581, followed by Pakistan (8.374), Syria (8.006), Mali (7.907), and Niger (7.776). Nigeria ranked 6th, ahead of Somalia, Israel, Afghanistan, and Cameroon.
The GTI is an annual report that ranks countries based on the impact of terrorism. Developed by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), an Australian-based think tank, the GTI provides a comprehensive summary of global terrorism trends since 2000.
The index uses data from the Global Terrorism Database (GTD), which has recorded over 190,000 terrorist incidents worldwide.
It assesses countries by considering factors such as the number of terrorist incidents, fatalities, injuries, and property damage. This approach offers a detailed overview of how terrorism affects nations globally.
The 2025 GTI report, released on March 5, ranked Nigeria as the 6th most terrorism-affected country, with a score of 7.658 and 565 terrorism-related deaths in 2024. This marked a shift from its 8th place position in 2023 and 2024.
The GTI’s methodology and findings often stimulate discussions among policymakers, researchers, and the public, emphasizing the importance of accurate data in understanding and combating terrorism.
However, the Nigerian military has questioned the credibility of the report. Director of Defence Media Operations, Markus Kangye, said that military intelligence and first-hand data from armed forces operations offer a different but more reliable assessment than external sources.
“Something is happening in my house, and I am the head of the house. Someone outside reports what is happening to me; who would be more correct? The head of the house or the outsider?” Kangye said, urging journalists to rely on verified military reports.
Security Efforts in the SE and NE
Kangye also addressed the ongoing security crisis elsewhere such as in the South-East, where a Sit-At-Home order is sometimes promoted by non-state actors agitating for sovereignty of the region.
He also explained that Operation Udo Ka is actively working to restore normalcy in the region, similar to Operation Hadin Kai’s efforts against insurgents in the North-East.
In a broader security update, Kangye announced that Nigerian troops killed 92 terrorists in recent operations, including a notorious commander, Abba Alai, also known as Amirul Khalid of Alafa. Additionally, troops arrested 111 criminals and rescued 75 hostages within a single week.
The military vows to continue counterterrorism efforts while challenging reports that downplay its success against insurgents and criminal groups.
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