A new report released by the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) has ranked Nigeria, for the sixth consecutive year, as the third most terrorized country in the world.
The report which was released on Wednesday, November 25, ranked Afghanistan as the number one most terrorized country in the world, followed by Iraq. Syria, Somalia, and Yemen are ranked fourth, fifth, and sixth respectively.
The report however stated that terror-related incidents in Nigeria fell by 27% in the same period. This was attributed to a significant reduction in violence attributed to killer herdsmen.
“Despite an overall decline in terrorism, Boko Haram, Nigeria’s deadliest terrorist group, recorded an increase in terrorist activity mainly targeted at civilians. Terror-related deaths and incidents attributed to Boko Haram in Nigeria increased by 25 and 30% respectively from the prior year.
“In 2019, Boko Haram carried out 11 suicide bombings causing 68 fatalities. Suicide bombings accounted for 6% of all terror-related incidents by Boko Haram in 2019, marking an 89% decline from their peak in 2017,” the report read.
Other countries among the 10 most impacted by terrorism are Pakistan (seventh), India (eighth), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (ninth), and the Philippines (10th).
According to the report, Nigeria witnessed her worst terrorist attack in 2019 in Borno State, where at least 70 people were killed and 10 others wounded when assailants attacked at a funeral.
“In 2019, Boko Haram carried out 11 suicide bombings causing 68 fatalities. Suicide bombings accounted for 6% of all terror-related incidents by Boko Haram in 2019, marking an 89% decline from their peak in 2017.
Boko Haram was responsible for Nigeria’s deadliest terrorist attack in 2019 when assailants attacked a funeral in Badu, Borno State.
At least 70 people were killed and 10 others were wounded in the attack and ensuing clash. The two main factions of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) and the followers of Abubakar Shekau, are both engaged in an insurgency campaign against the Nigerian government.
Violence by the two main factions of Boko Haram have taken a large toll on the civilian population, particularly in northeast
Nigeria, where continued attacks have internally displaced more than two million people and caused a further 240,000 Nigerian refugees to flee to neighbouring countries.”
