NIGERIA: According to the recent data released by the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), Nigeria is occupying six positions against its former fourth position which it has been maintaining from 2017 to 2020.
This achievement is attributed to the success recorded in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents and other terrorist groups in the country in recent years.
GTI which is an independent and non-profit making organization, the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) disclosed that Nigeria and Somalia are the only countries among the most 10 affected terrorism nations that has seen an improvement in the recent ranking.
The report further stated that about 448 terrorism-related deaths were recorded in 2021, the lowest casualties recorded since 2011. However, the attack on communities, religious centers, and other public places will increase by 49 percent between 2020 to 2021.
The Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) is accountable for 36% of the occurrences, while Boko Haram is responsible for 8% and the remaining 44% is not linked to any organization.
Where GTI viewed ISWAP as the most dangerous terrorist group in Nigeria in 2020. It also revealed that Boko Haram contributed to just 69 deaths which have seen the activities of the terrorism group declining by 77 percent in the previous years.
However, looking at the declining rate of the Boko Haram activities in Nigeria, Borno state has witnessed tremendous achievement as it has only 71 percent terrorism-related deaths looking backward at the previous years, GTI reports.
GTI however attributed the successes recorded the recent times to the death of the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, and other strategies put together to end any form of terrorism in the country.
Due to the death of the Boko Haram leader, Shekau, his followers were left with any other option than to think of a decision to either continue Shekau’s ideology or join ISWA.
Following Shekau’s death, it has been alleged that up to 100 former Boko Haram commanders have joined ISWA.
“Attacks by ISWA, as well as counter-terrorism measures by the Nigerian government and foreign armed forces, have considerably damaged Boko Haram’s impact in Nigeria,” according to GTI.
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