Nigeria recorded the largest increase in terrorism deaths globally in 2025, with fatalities rising by 46% from 513 in 2024 to 750, placing it fourth in the Global Terrorism Index, behind Pakistan, Burkina Faso and Niger. Africa's most populous nation is grappling with a multifaceted security crisis as extremist groups such as Boko Haram and its offshoots attempt to carve out control of swathes of territory.
From Boko Haram to herderfarmer clashes, Nigeria's crises are complex. Simplistic genocide claims fuel propaganda. In recent days, coordinated attacks on Nigeria's nationhood have swept across social media, blogs and television outlets, alleging a so-called Christian genocide. These attacks, driven by foreign actors, mischaracterise Nigeria's domestic conflicts, ignore its complexities and manipulate longstanding ethnic and resource-based tensions to advance sectarian agendas.
According to Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission, at least 2,266 people were killed by bandits or insurgents in Nigeriaduring the first half of 2025 surpassing the total number of such deaths in all of 2024. "We're seeing nighttime raids, not just against civilians but also against the military. Not just to prevent reinforcement but also shows the tactical approach being used. We are seeing attacks and abductions on highways and farmlands," Malik Samuel, a Senior Researcher with Good Governance Africa, told DW.
