Jihadist violence surged in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2025, despite a significant global decline in terrorism-related deaths. While global fatalities dropped to their lowest level in a decade, Nigeria and DRC faced alarming increases in terrorist attacks and deaths, highlighting a troubling trend in certain regions.

Rising Violence in Nigeria
Nigeria experienced the largest increase in terrorism deaths globally, with fatalities rising by 46% from 513 in 2024 to 750 in 2025. This increase placed Nigeria fourth on the Global Terrorism Index, behind Pakistan, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The country is grappling with a complex security crisis as extremist groups like Boko Haram and its offshoots attempt to seize control of territories. Additionally, various ethnic militias and criminal groups, including bandits, are active in northern and central Nigeria. The situation escalated in February when 162 people were killed in a massacre in Kwara state, marking one of the deadliest attacks in recent years.

Military Response in Nigeria
In response to the rising violence, the Nigerian military reported successful operations against Islamist insurgents. Troops, supported by air assistance, repelled a coordinated assault on a military base in Borno state, resulting in the deaths of at least 80 insurgents, including senior commanders. This military action followed multiple suicide bombings in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno, which killed at least 23 people and left over 100 injured.

Escalation in the DRC
The DRC also witnessed a nearly 28% rise in terrorism-related deaths, increasing from 365 in 2024 to 467 in 2025. This surge pushed the DRC to eighth place on the Global Terrorism Index, its worst ranking to date. The rise in violence is primarily attributed to the IS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which has been responsible for numerous attacks in the region.

Global Context of Declining Terrorism
Contrasting sharply with the situation in Nigeria and the DRC, the Global Terrorism Index revealed a 28% decline in global deaths from terrorism, totaling 5,582 in 2025. Total attacks worldwide fell by nearly 22%. Notably, deaths from terrorism in the West increased by 280%, with 57 fatalities reported. The United States alone recorded 28 deaths, the highest number since 2019, largely driven by youth radicalization and lone-wolf attacks.

Expert Commentary
Steve Killelea, founder of the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), emphasized the concerning implications of these trends, stating that a fracturing world order could undermine the progress made in combating terrorism over the past decade. The rise in terrorism-related deaths in specific regions underscores the need for targeted interventions to address the underlying issues fueling extremism.

Wrap-up
As Nigeria and the DRC grapple with escalating violence and insecurity, the global decline in terrorism deaths raises questions about the effectiveness of counter-terrorism strategies. The contrasting trends highlight the complexities of addressing terrorism in a world where some regions are experiencing significant increases in violence while others see a reduction.

Sources
theguardian.com

@hoju-korean.com Editorial Team