Nigeria and DRC Witness Sharp Rise in Jihadist Violence Despite Global Decline. Lagos, Nigeria — 2026-03-19 Lead Paragraph Terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) surged last year, despite a global decline in terror-related fatalities, according to a new report. Nigeria experienced the largest increase in terrorism-related deaths worldwide in 2025, with fatalities rising by 46%, while the DRC saw a nearly 28% increase in such deaths.
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In Nigeria, the surge in terrorism — related deaths, from 513 in 2024 to 750 in 2025, propelled the country to fourth place in the Global Terrorism Index, behind Pakistan, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
The rise is attributed to the activities of extremist groups like Boko Haram and its offshoots, which are attempting to establish control over large areas of the country.
Various ethnic militia and criminal elements, including “bandit “groups, are also active in northern and central Nigeria, exacerbating the security situation.
In February, one of the deadliest attacks in Nigeria’s recent history occurred in Kwara state, near the border with the Benin Republic, where 162 people were massacred.
The Nigerian army recently repelled a coordinated assault by Islamist insurgents on a military base in Borno state, killing at least 80 fighters, including senior commanders.
This followed multiple suicide bombings in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno, which killed at least 23 and wounded over 100.
In the DRC, the increase in terrorism — related deaths was primarily driven by the IS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The deaths rose from 365 in 2024 to 467 in 2025, pushing the central African state to eighth place on the Global Terrorism Index.
The global picture, as presented by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), contrasts sharply with the situations in Nigeria and the DRC.
The index recorded a 28% decline in global terrorism-related deaths to 5,582, while total attacks fell by nearly 22%.
However, there was a 280% increase in deaths from terrorism in the West, with the United States recording 28 deaths in 2025, the highest figure since 2019.
Steve Killelea, founder of the IEP, noted that these trends suggest a fracturing world order that could erase the gains made against terrorism over the past decade. More than half of all deaths from terrorism worldwide in 2025 occurred in the Sahel, despite a drop from the previous year.
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The rise in jihadist violence in Nigeria and the DRC stands in stark contrast to the global trend.
As the situation in these countries continues to evolve, further details and reactions are expected.
