Global energy markets are in a state of high alarm this Thursday, March 19, 2026, as Brent crude soared by over 6 percent to cross the $114 per barrel mark—the highest level seen since the onset of the current regional conflict.
The 2026 Global Terrorism Index, published by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) on March 19, 2026, reveals a stark contrast between Nigeria and the rest of the world. While global deaths from terrorism plummeted by 28% to 5,582—the lowest level since 2007—Nigeria recorded the largest increase in fatalities of any nation. Total deaths in the country rose from 513 in 2024 to 750 in 2025, a spike primarily driven by a dramatic 360% increase in Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) activity. The group’s attacks jumped from 20 to 92 incidents within a single year. Together with Boko Haram, these organizations accounted for eight out of every ten terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria.
The report highlights two particularly devastating massacres in Borno State that underscore the rising lethality. On May 15, 2025, Boko Haram’s JAS faction reportedly abducted 100 civilians from the villages of Mallam Karamti and Kwatandashi, with 57 bodies later recovered. Later in September, a coordinated assault on Darajamal killed 58 villagers and five soldiers. These events contributed to Nigeria ranking 4th on the global index, behind only Pakistan (which took the top spot for the first time), Burkina Faso, and Niger. The concentration of violence remains intense, with just five countries—including Nigeria—accounting for nearly 70% of all global terrorism deaths.
Despite the grim national data, the GTI notes that the broader Sub-Saharan African region (excluding the Sahel) saw deaths drop to their lowest level since 2016. However, Nigeria remains the only country in the Sahel region to experience an increase in both attacks and fatalities. Experts attribute this “outlier” status to the growing instability in the North-West and the exploitation of porous borderlands. As the world sees hard-fought gains against terrorism, the IEP warns that Nigeria’s deteriorating security landscape, fueled by a 280% rise in youth radicalization and lone-wolf actors in the West, threatens to pull the region back into a cycle of high-intensity conflict.
2026 Global Terrorism Index: Top 5 Most Impacted Countries
| Rank | Country | Trend | Primary Groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pakistan | Sharp Increase | TTP, BLA |
| 2 | Burkina Faso | Slight Decrease | JNIM, IS-Sahel |
| 3 | Niger | Increase | IS-Sahel |
| 4 | Nigeria | 46% Increase | ISWAP, Boko Haram |
| 5 | DRC | 28% Increase | ADF (IS-affiliated) |
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