Nigeria has been ranked as the third most terrorised country in the world by the Global Terrorism Index.
Jomog News Nigeria reports that in the Global Terrorism Index ranking of the 10 most terrorised countries of the world in 2019, Nigeria has been ranked as the third, coming behind only Afghanistan and Iraq.
According to the Global Terrorism Index, Nigeria’s ranking was aided by increased terrorist activities by Boko Haram and increased bandit activities.
GTI said 2,043 people died from “terrorism-related acts” in Nigeria in 2018 but only 1,245 deaths were recorded in 2019. In the overall, deaths from terrorism world over fell by 15.5 percent from 2018 to 2019.
Apart from Nigeria, two other African countries were named in the top 10: Somalia ranked 6 and Democratic Republic of Congo ranked 10.
Other countries in the top 10 are: Syria ranked 4, Pakistan ranked 5, India ranked 7, Yemen ranked 8 and The Philippines ranked 9.
Afghanistan is top on the list, followed by Iraq.
Syria, Somalia and Yemen are ranked fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
GTI said despite the rise in the number of casualties from Boko Haram attacks in the North-East, Nigeria was the second to record a fall in violent deaths after Afghanistan in 2019.
The report indicates that Nigeria remains the most terrorised country in Africa with huge economic and financial loss.
Excerpts from the report reads, “Nigeria had the second largest fall in total deaths, owing largely to a 72 per cent reduction in fatalities attributed to Fulani extremists.
Renewed activity by Boko Haram in Nigeria and neighbouring countries, including Cameroon, Chad and Niger, remains a substantial threat to the region.
“In 2019, Boko Haram carried out 11 suicide bombings causing 68 fatalities. Suicide bombings accounted for six per cent of all terror-related incidents by Boko Haram in 2019, marking an 89 per cent decline from their peak in 2017. Boko Haram was responsible for Nigeria’s deadliest terrorist attack in 2019 when assailants attacked a funeral in Badu, Borno State.
“At least 70 people were killed and 10 others were wounded in the attack and ensuing clash. The two main factions of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West African Province and the followers of Abubakar Shekau, are both engaged in an insurgency campaign against the Nigerian Government.
“Violence by the two main factions of Boko Haram have taken a large toll on the civilian population, particularly in North-East Nigeria, where continued attacks have internally displaced more than two million people and caused a further 240,000 Nigerian refugees to flee to neighbouring countries.”
