Terrorist Attacks Rise 86% in Nigeria's Northwest States

A report published by ACL reveals a significant surge in terrorist attacks in Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, and Kwara states, with incidents involving Islamist groups rising by 86% from 2024 to 2025. The report highlights the growing influence of jihadist groups, particularly those affiliated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS, in the tri-border area of West Africa.

It notes that the escalation of violence poses a heightened risk to civilian communities and reflects a broader trend of jihadist expansion across the Sahel and coastal West Africa. The report also indicates that the operational capabilities of these groups have deepened, allowing them to evade security forces and assert control over local communities.

The situation is exacerbated by the partial withdrawal of military forces from Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, which hampers joint counterterrorism operations. Notably, in October 2025, a deadly attack occurred in Kwara state, marking one of the most lethal incidents in the region, prompting President Bola Tinubu to redeploy police personnel to address the rising threat.