THE Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been identified as two of the most deadly terrorist groups in Nigeria, as attacks by Boko Haram reduced to the lowest level in over a decade.
According to the 2023 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report, published on Tuesday, March 14, Boko Haram’s decline has resulted in “substantial improvement in terrorism” especially in Borno State, one of the strongholds of the group.
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“Borno State experienced a decrease of 12 per cent in terrorism-related deaths when compared with the year prior. Attacks in the state also decreased from 91 to 48 respectively, a decrease of 47 per cent”, said the report.
The report added that ISWAP’s lethality rate has increased in the state, with the group recording 40 incidents that resulted in 168 deaths in 2022, compared to Boko Haram’s six incidents and 63 deaths.
“The deadliest terror attack of the year occurred in Borno State, when gunmen killed 50 civilians who were accused of informing on the terrorists’ movements to security forces,” the report noted.
ISWAP claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had targeted ‘spies’.
The report explained that severe defeats, mass defections of operatives to ISWAP as well as counter-terrorism efforts by the Nigerian government and foreign military forces, have significantly weakened Boko Haram’s impact in Nigeria.
“As a result, ISWAP has become significantly stronger and continues to expand its area of activity in north-eastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad region”, the report said.
However, Borno State remains the hardest-hit region in Nigeria for terrorism, accounting for 60 per cent of all terror-related deaths in 2022.
The report observed that “activity by terrorist groups such as ISWAP is expected to increase in the lead up to, and following, February’s presidential elections, as groups exploit tensions caused by the elections”.
Similarly, the report said IPOB, which was designated as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government in 2017, recorded its deadliest year in 2022.
According to the report: “They were responsible for 40 attacks and 57 deaths in 2022, an increase from 26 and 34 deaths the year prior. IPOB is a separatist movement with many factions, many of which are seeking a peaceful succession from Nigeria.”
The report noted that Nigeria recorded the lowest number of terror attacks and deaths since 2011, “with total deaths falling by 23 per cent, decreasing from 497 in 2021 to 385 in 2022”.
“The number of terrorist attacks in Nigeria also fell considerably, with 120 incidents recorded in 2022 comparedto 214 in 2021.”
The annual Global Terrorism Index report is published by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), an independent and non-profit think tank.
Sinafi Omanga is a multimedia journalist and researcher with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. He has a keen interest in humanitarian reporting, social justice, and environment.
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