Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
ABUJA, Nigeria — The CLEEN Foundation has criticized the Federal Government following the release of the 2026 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), a comprehensive annual report tracking the impact of terrorism in 163 countries. The index, compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace, revealed that Nigeria ranked fourth among the world’s most terror‑affected nations in 2025, a position that has sparked alarm among civil society and security analysts, even as global terrorism statistics show an overall decline. Nigeria’s placement highlights a dramatic reversal in the country’s security situation and has prompted urgent calls for strategic reform.
According to the GTI findings, Nigeria suffered one of the largest increases in terrorism‑related deaths worldwide in 2025, with fatalities rising by approximately 46 percent to around 750 deaths. The surge in violent incidents and deaths placed Nigeria behind only Pakistan, Burkina Faso, and Niger, underscoring the severity of the crisis. Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were identified as the main perpetrators of violence, responsible for the majority of attacks and fatalities.
The GTI report also pointed out that the global trend in terrorism has been largely positive overall, with total deaths from terrorism worldwide falling by nearly 28 percent and the number of attacks declining by around 22 percent, reaching some of the lowest levels in over a decade. Despite these broader improvements, Nigeria was a notable exception, recording increases in both the number of incidents and deaths, particularly in its northeastern region.
In response, the CLEEN Foundation expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security environment and condemned the government’s perceived failure to contain the growing threat. In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Peter Maduoma, the foundation described Nigeria’s ranking as a clear indication of systemic weaknesses and urged immediate review and overhaul of the nation’s counter‑terrorism approach.
The statement highlighted that although the frequency of terror attacks has decreased in some areas, the consequences have become more severe, with civilians bearing the brunt of violence. CLEEN noted that a significant proportion of deaths attributable to terrorism now involve non-combatants, reflecting a troubling shift in tactics by extremist groups.
CLEEN stressed that the recent surge in violent incidents exposed gaps in Nigeria’s predominantly military-focused counter-terrorism strategy, which has failed to address the evolving nature of the threat. The organization called for a more holistic framework that goes beyond military responses, emphasizing enhanced civilian protection, improved early warning and intelligence systems, community resilience programs, and efforts to address underlying socio-economic drivers of extremism, including poverty, inequality, and weak governance.
Among the foundation’s key proposals was the urgent implementation of the National Security Strategy (NSS), which provides a blueprint for addressing complex security challenges, including terrorism. CLEEN argued that the NSS must be backed by concrete action and adequate resources to be effective, pointing to slow and incomplete execution of prior strategy documents as a major impediment.
The organization also underscored the need for greater collaboration between government, civil society, and international partners, noting that terrorism in West Africa has transnational dimensions that demand coordinated regional efforts. Stronger cooperation with neighboring countries such as Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin, along with enhanced intelligence-sharing and joint operations, were among the measures CLEEN urged authorities to pursue.
CLEEN warned that the rising lethality of terror attacks — including high-casualty assaults and deliberate targeting of civilians — has deepened humanitarian concerns and undermined community resilience in affected areas. The report noted that regions previously considered relatively stable have recently experienced spillovers of violence, stretching security resources and response capacities.
The condemnation has been echoed by other civil society groups and political commentators, who described the GTI findings as a wake-up call for urgent policy reassessment. Opposition voices and advocacy organizations also criticized the government for insufficient focus on preventive measures, socio-economic development, and structural reforms that could reduce recruitment into extremist groups.
Several high-profile terrorist incidents in states such as Borno and Yobe resulted in mass casualties and kidnappings, reflecting a shift in tactics and geographic spread of violence. These events are emblematic of a broader pattern in which extremist groups continue to challenge state authority and exploit vulnerabilities in local communities.
Security agencies have maintained that efforts are underway to counter terrorism, including military operations targeting extremist strongholds and strategies aimed at degrading the operational capacity of militant organizations. Government representatives have argued that the security challenges are multifaceted and require sustained, long-term action — a position met with both support and criticism.
As the GTI report gains wider attention, Nigeria’s ranking among the world’s most terrorized nations is likely to intensify public and policy debates on the best path forward. Observers stress that without a robust, multi-dimensional response integrating security, governance, economic, and social interventions, gains in stabilisation may remain limited.
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