NIGERIA’S opposition parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), have criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu following the country’s ranking as the fourth most terrorism-impacted nation in the 2026 Global Terrorism Index.

The Global Terrorism Index 2026 (GTI 2026) is an annual data-driven report by the Institute for Economics & Peace that measures the impact of terrorism worldwide. 

GTI 2026 provides a global ranking of countries by the impact of terrorism, using a composite score based on incidents, fatalities, injuries, and hostages, weighted over five years to capture lasting psychological and social effects. 

The report placed Nigeria behind Pakistan, Burkina Faso and Niger, with a score of 7.792.

According to the index, terrorist incidents in Nigeria rose by 43 per cent, from 120 in 2024 to 171 in 2025, while deaths increased significantly, with civilians accounting for the majority of victims.

Data from the Global Terrorism Index also showed that insurgent groups such as ISWAP and Boko Haram remain major drivers of violence, with the North-East, particularly Borno, continuing to bear the brunt of attacks.

The report also notes rising sophistication in some jihadist operations, including increased use of drones and battlefield-style tactics, and warns that overlapping conflicts (for example around Iran and South Asia) and deteriorating economic conditions may reverse recent global gains.

PDP: Tinubu government dancing on blood

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, on March 19, the PDP described the ranking as “painful but not surprising,” accusing the Tinubu-led government of failing in its primary duty to protect lives and property.

The party said Nigeria’s placement among the world’s most terrorised countries reflected the “daily lived reality” of citizens, alleging that insecurity had worsened under the current administration.

“The country has now become more insecure than at any time in this Fourth Republic,” the party said, adding that insecurity had evolved into a “trillion-naira economy.”

The PDP also criticised what it described as the government’s ‘reactive’ approach to security, urging the administration to adopt a “whole-of-society” strategy to address the crisis and ensure both immediate cessation of attacks and long-term stability.

“This global report aligns with the daily lived reality of Nigerians, who are now more insecure than they have ever been in this Fourth Republic. In fact, under President Tinubu’s watch, insecurity has not just become very lucrative, it has attained a trillion-naira economy status.

“We call on the president and the entire security hierarchy to stop performing reactive responses that have defined post-attack communications and rather adopt a whole-of-society approach towards solving insecurity. Furthermore, they should evolve programmes and policies capable of delivering negative peace (cessation of attacks and incidents) immediately and providing the basis for positive peace (voluntary and unforced harmonious co-existence),” the statement read.

ADC proposes security overhaul

Similarly, the ADC faulted the federal government’s handling of insecurity, citing figures from the Global Terrorism Index to argue that the situation had deteriorated under Tinubu’s watch.

A statement by the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the figures released by the GTA showed how exposed ordinary Nigerians had become. He noted that Borno State accounted for 67 per cent of attacks and 72 per cent of deaths, while civilians made up 67 per cent of those killed.

Abdullahi also criticised the president’s overseas engagements amid ongoing attacks, contrasting his actions with global examples of leadership during crises.

“It is interesting to note that when American soldiers were killed in the recent Iran conflict, President Trump went to receive their bodies. But when 30 civilians were killed this week in Borno, President Tinubu flew to the United Kingdom for tea and biscuits.

“This is why the ADC will take three decisive steps to fix Nigeria’s broken security system and restore safety across the country,” he wrote.

To address the situation, the party outlined a three-point plan focused on improving coordination among security agencies, decentralising policing, and shifting from reactive to preventive strategies.

It proposed the creation of a national intelligence coordination system, a unified Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the deployment of early warning systems and rapid response units across all states.

Rising insecurity

In recent weeks, insurgents linked to Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram have intensified attacks on military formations in Borno State, exposing the continued vulnerability of security forces in the country.

Reports indicate that terrorists overran military bases in the state during coordinated attacks in early March, killing dozens of soldiers and carting away weapons and vehicles. 

During these coordinated attacks, at least three commanding officers were reportedly killed alongside dozens of junior officers.

The onslaughts, The ICIR reports, were part of a wider surge in insurgent activity in the North-East that has reportedly left at least 65 soldiers dead within two weeks. Recall that the region has faced nearly two decades of attacks by the marauders. 

Mustapha USMAN

Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M