Terror in Nigeria: 750 Deaths, 171 Attacks and Govt’s Faltering Response, By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

Terror in Nigeria: 750 Deaths, 171 Attacks and Govt’s Faltering Response

By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi,

The March 2026 Global Terrorism Index, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, paints a grim picture of Nigeria’s security outlook. The country has climbed to fourth place among the nations most impacted by terrorism, rising from its previous position of sixth.

In 2025 alone, Nigeria recorded 171 terrorist incidents and 750 deaths, marking a 43–46 per cent increase in fatalities. These figures reinforce the lived reality of millions of Nigerians: insecurity is widespread, and the existing security framework is proving ineffective. The fight against terrorism is clearly not being won.

Particularly alarming is that Nigeria is the only country in the Sahel to record an increase in both deaths and incidents. While Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, countries that have endured prolonged cycles of violence are beginning to show marginal declines, Nigeria is moving in the opposite direction. Attacks attributed to Islamic State affiliates rose sharply from 20 in 2024 to 92 in 2025.

Across the country from north to south, east to west, communities are under siege from bandits, kidnappers, insurgents, ethnic militias, and other armed groups. These actors frequently invade communities, operate for extended periods, and withdraw with little or no resistance from security forces.

Recent incidents illustrate the scale of the crisis. On March 29, Palm Sunday night, gunmen attacked Angwan Rukuba in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing no fewer than 40 people. That same night, bandits struck a wedding ceremony in Kahir village, Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State, killing 13 guests, injuring many, and abducting others. For nearly an hour, the attackers moved from house to house, looting and burning properties without challenge.

Earlier, on March 17, multiple explosions rocked Maiduguri, Borno State, killing at least 23 people and injuring over 100. The attack marked a disturbing return of coordinated large-scale violence in a city that had experienced relative calm in recent years. It underscored a critical reality: insurgent groups in the North-East retain the capacity to strike at will.

The federal response has done little to inspire confidence. President Bola Tinubu’s delayed visit to Plateau State—coming after the governor’s trip to Abuja—raised concerns about urgency and leadership optics. Addressing victims at the airport before departing shortly after, the President promised the deployment of AI-powered surveillance systems. While such measures are welcome, Nigerians are increasingly sceptical of announcements that rarely translate into tangible outcomes.

Not long ago within a single week, at least 50 people were killed across Plateau, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Taraba states. In Zamfara alone, about 50 villagers were reportedly massacred in Tungan Dutse, Bukkuyum area, in February. Many such atrocities go underreported, further obscuring the true scale of the crisis.

The frequency and normalization of these attacks point to a grim reality: terror has become routine. Yet, even amid widespread violence and grief, political activity has remained largely disconnected from the urgency of the situation.

Barely 48 hours after the Palm Sunday attacks, three cabinet ministers resigned—not in response to the security crisis, but to pursue electoral ambitions. Around the same time, federal lawmakers were preoccupied with defections, while party leaders engaged in political realignments ahead of future elections.

The signal is clear: political calculations continue to take precedence over human security.

Nigeria has faced a similar tipping point before. In 2015, general elections had to be postponed due to the Boko Haram insurgency, which at the time controlled 27 local government areas across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states. The country must not drift back toward that level of territorial and institutional vulnerability.

The government’s typical response pattern—condemnations followed by promises of investigation and prosecution—has lost credibility. Nigerians have heard these assurances after repeated massacres in Benue, Zamfara, Niger, Katsina, and other states. Without visible consequences, such statements amount to little more than routine rhetoric.

What is required now is a structural shift in strategy.

First, the federal government must accelerate the establishment of state policing. The current centralized model has proven inadequate for a country of Nigeria’s size, diversity, and complex threat environment. State governors, with better knowledge of local dynamics, are better positioned to coordinate rapid and context-specific responses.

Second, there must be sustained investment in technology-driven security infrastructure. Surveillance systems, drones, satellite monitoring, biometric databases, and integrated intelligence platforms are no longer optional—they are foundational to modern counter-terrorism. Commitments to acquiring such capabilities must transition from policy statements to operational deployment.

Third, and most critically, the government must demonstrate the political will to dismantle the financial and logistical networks that sustain terrorism. Insurgent groups do not operate in isolation; they rely on funding channels, supply chains, and, in some cases, protection from influential actors. Disrupting these networks is essential. Targeting only foot soldiers while sponsors remain untouched is ineffective and counterproductive.

Nigerians are exhausted by persistent insecurity that confines them within their own communities. The desire to live, work, worship, and celebrate without fear is not excessive—it is the most basic expectation of governance.

Nigeria’s current ranking on the Global Terrorism Index sends a damaging signal to the international community. It discourages foreign investment and erodes domestic economic confidence. Entrepreneurs are increasingly reluctant to invest in an environment where security cannot be guaranteed.

Mass kidnappings and violent raids have become recurring events rather than exceptional occurrences. Armed groups continue to exploit governance gaps and institutional weaknesses, operating with increasing boldness.

Global precedents offer clear warnings. Afghanistan’s prolonged insurgency culminated in state collapse. Somalia continues to struggle with the consequences of entrenched militant activity. In the Sahel, Mali and Burkina Faso have lost significant territorial control due to delayed and inadequate responses to jihadist threats.

Nigeria is approaching a similar inflection point. God forbid!

However, avoiding that outcome requires immediate, coordinated, and decisive action—anchored in political will, institutional reform, and operational efficiency. The cost of continued inertia is too high, and the window for effective intervention is narrowing.

Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Crisis Communication, Abuja.