Africa
Nigeria ranks sixth in new Global Terrorism Index Report
A recent Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report has revealed that Nigeria has risen to sixth place among the most terrorism-affected countries globally, with dozens of lives lost to terrorism-related incidents in 2024.
This ranking comes amid concerns raised by the Nigeria Human Rights Commission, which reported a 25% increase in human rights violations across the country in February 2025.
The report, released on March 5, 2025, assigned Nigeria a score of 7.658, marking a shift from its 8th place ranking in 2023 and 2024.
According to the GTI, Nigeria recorded 565 terrorism-related deaths in 2024.
However, the Nigerian military has questioned the credibility of the report, arguing that its own intelligence and on-ground assessments provide a more accurate picture of the security situation.
The 2025 GTI ranked 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 placed sixth, ahead of Somalia (7.614), Israel (7.463), Afghanistan (7.262), Cameroon (6.944), and Myanmar (6.929), among others.
Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, dismissed the GTI findings, emphasizing that the Nigerian armed forces’ firsthand reports and intelligence are more reliable than external assessments.
He likened the situation to a household scenario, stating, “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 urged the media to rely on verified military reports rather than external data.
The report’s release coincides with growing concerns over human rights violations and security challenges in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Human Rights Commission highlighted a significant rise in violations, particularly in conflict-prone regions.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government continues to grapple with insurgency, banditry, and other forms of violence, which have exacerbated the country’s security crisis.
The priests were abducted two weeks ago at a convent in Gwaida Mallam, Numan Local Government Area.
According to a statement by the Adamawa State Police Command, Damiel was arrested on Saturday night in connection with the kidnapping.
The police spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed that Damiel had been taken into custody and that the rescued priests had been reunited with their Catholic family.
Nguroje stated, “In a bid to ensure protection of lives and property, a safe and secured environment in the state, the command carried out a coordinated rescue operation at a criminal hideout in Gwaida Mallam village, connecting parts of Numan and Demsa LGAs.”
The police had initially tracked Damiel to a location where he was supposed to collect a ₦10 million ransom.
However, he abandoned the ransom and fled the scene, leaving behind critical evidence, including a motorcycle.
The police later tracked him to his inherited apartment, where the abducted priests were found and rescued.
A locally fabricated assault rifle was also recovered at the crime scene.
Nguroje added, “These rescue operations commenced from February 21, 2025, in various criminal hideouts within the state and it yielded positive results.
“One Tahamado Jonathan Demian, 34 years old, a member of the same church with the victims, was arrested for kidnapping of his two Reverend fathers (Abraham Samman and Matthew David Dusami) of Catholic Dioceses of Yola and Jalingo respectively.”
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