The 2023 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) has ranked Nigeria as the eighth most terrorised country globally in 2022, dropping from its sixth position in 2021 .
According to report released recently, terrorist activities in the country had fallen to its lowest since 2011.
Between 2017 and 2020, Nigeria ranked fourth most terrorised in the world and in 2016 and 2015, it ranked second.
The insurgency of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province has led to the death of thousands of Nigerians in the northeast region since 2009, but the groups were more restrained in 2022.
The report noted, “Deaths in Nigeria peaked in 2014 at 2,101 deaths before declining in five of the subsequent nine years.”
Deaths linked to terrorism in Nigeria dropped from 497 in 2021 to 385 in 2022.
The number of terrorist attacks also dropped from 214 in 2021 to 120, the lowest recorded since 2011.
Meanwhile, the GTI ranked the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as the 10th deadliest terror group in the world.
IPOB is a separatist group proscribed and declared a terrorist organisation in 2017 by the federal government.
IPOB is said to be responsible for 40 attacks and 57 deaths in 2022 – considered the group’s deadliest year.
In the GTI, published by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), an independent and non-profit think tank, the Islamic state topped the ranking with 1,045 deaths and 410 attacks.
Al- Shabaab ranked next with 784 deaths and 315 attacks while Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISK) recorded 498 deaths and 141 attacks; Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), 279 deaths and 77 attacks; Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), 233 deaths and 30 attacks.
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) ranked 6th with 219 deaths and 65 attacks followed by Boko Haram which is responsible for 204 deaths and 64 attacks.
The reports also showed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as recording 137 deaths and 90 attacks, followed by Islamic State – Sinai Province with 71 deaths and 27 attacks, and then IPOB as number 10th.
“The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), designated as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government in 2017, recorded their deadliest year in 2022,” the report reads.
“They were responsible for 40 attacks and 57 deaths in 2022, an increase from 26 attacks and 34 deaths the year prior. IPOB is a separatist movement with many factions, many of which are seeking a peaceful succession from Nigeria.”
