Terrorism Toll in Nigeria: 13,000 Militants Killed in One Year

Nigeria has reported its annual results in the fight against extremism, stating that at least 13,000 “terrorists” have been killed.

On Friday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu announced that at least 13,000 “terrorists” were killed in Nigeria over the “past year,” stressing that terrorism-related deaths in the country have decreased by 81% since he took office in May 2023.

Tinubu confirmed that “more than 13,000 terrorists were eliminated over the past year,” without specifying whether he was referring to 2025 or the last twelve months.

He also added that “more than 124,000 fighters and their family members have surrendered their weapons since 2023 through the Safe Corridor operation,” which is being implemented by the authorities to rehabilitate individuals linked to militant groups.

Between Terrorism and Crime

Northern Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, faces two parallel security threats: violence from terrorist groups on the one hand, and criminal gangs on the other, which frequently carry out village raids and mass kidnappings for ransom.

Since 2009, violence carried out by Boko Haram and later its rival, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions in northeastern Nigeria.

Kidnappings for ransom are also increasing in the northwestern and central regions of the country.

Instability is now spreading toward southwestern Nigeria, where more than 40 students and teachers were abducted from a school in Oyo State last May.