Nigeria has been ranked among countries with some of the world’s deadliest terrorist incidents, according to the 2026 Global Terrorism Index, which highlights two major attacks in Borno State among the most fatal globally.
One of the incidents, which occurred in September 2025 in Darajamal village, Bama Local Government Area, was listed among the top ten deadliest attacks worldwide. Armed men reportedly stormed the community, killing dozens of residents and security personnel. The Nigerian military later engaged the attackers, with several of them said to have been neutralised. Although no group officially claimed responsibility, the assault has been linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province by local sources.
Another deadly attack in May 2025 in Kukawa Local Government Area also ranked among the worst globally. Militants targeted neighbouring communities, reportedly abducting scores of civilians, with dozens later confirmed dead while many others remained unaccounted for. The incident has been attributed to a Boko Haram faction operating in the region.
The report places these attacks within a broader global context, noting that the most devastating incidents of the year occurred in West Africa. Burkina Faso recorded the highest number of fatalities from individual attacks, including a major assault on a military position that left over a hundred soldiers dead.
Several other large-scale attacks in the country, as well as in Niger, also contributed significantly to global terrorism figures.
Overall, the index shows that terrorism-related deaths in 2025 were heavily concentrated in a small number of countries, with Burkina Faso, Pakistan, Nigeria, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounting for the majority of fatalities worldwide.
While some countries recorded declines in attacks, Nigeria experienced a notable rise in terrorism-related deaths during the period under review, underscoring ongoing security challenges despite intensified counterterrorism efforts.
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