The efforts by the Federal Government and the Armed Forces to end the insecurity in the country are seen to be yielding more positive results, as independent international assessors agree that the country has improved.
Consequently, the country has dropped from the fourth position it has been since 2017 to sixth in the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI), following successes in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents.
According to the GTI, published by an independent and non-profit think tank, the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), it has been indicated that Nigeria, Syria, and Somalia are the only nations, among the 10 most affected by terrorism, to get an improved score from 2020 to 2021.
“Total deaths from terrorism in Nigeria fell to 448 in 2021, the lowest level since 2011,” the report said.
The report stated that “terror-related casualties dropped by almost half compared with the previous year.
“However, the number of terrorist attacks increased by 49per cent between 2020 and 2021. 36percent of attacks were claimed by ISWA, Boko Haram being responsible for eight per cent and 44percent not attributed to any group.”
The report attributed terror attacks in Nigeria from 2020 to ISWAP.
“The decline of Boko Haram continued into 2021, with Boko Haram responsible for only 69 deaths, a decrease of 77percent from the previous year. This is the lowest number of deaths by the group for a decade,” the report said.
“Boko Haram’s decline has resulted in a substantial improvement in terrorism in Borno State, which experienced a decrease of 71percent in terrorism deaths when compared with the prior year.
It explained that “attacks in the (Borno) state also decreased from 121 to 86, respectively, a decrease of 30per cent.”
However, the report said Borno State remains the hardest-hit region in Nigeria for terrorism, accounting for half of all terror-related deaths in 2021.
It noted that Boko Haram’s decline coincides with a number of factors, most significantly the death of the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau.
Shekau, who committed suicide by detonating an explosives vest during a confrontation with ISWA in May, 2021.
“Given the demise of their leader, Shekau’s followers were faced with the decision to either continue Shekau’s ideology or join ISWA. It has been reported that as many as former Boko Haram commanders have joined ISWA after Shekau’s death,” the report said.
“Attacks by ISWA as well as counter-terrorism efforts by the Nigerian government and foreign military forces have significantly weakened Boko Haram’s impact in Nigeria.”
The terrorism index also showed that law enforcement, including police and prison officers, overtook both military and civilians as the most targeted group of 2021.
These attacks, the report said, were largely driven by a surge in clashes between law enforcement and separatist groups, such as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The Founder & Executive Chairman, IEP, Steve Killelea said, terrorism was becoming more centred in conflict zones, underpinned by weak governments and political instability, while in Europe and the US politically-motivated terrorism has overtaken religiously motivated attacks.
“As conflict in the Ukraine dominates global attention it is crucial that the global fight against terrorism is not sidelined. Terrorist activity in the Sahel is increasing substantially, and is driven by Islamic militias,” Killelea said.
“The decline of terrorism in the West coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions on freedom of movement, travel and the immediate threat to personal health may explain some of the fall. Once the emergency measures are removed there is the possibility of an uptick in terrorism activity.”