‘Painful indictment of failed leadership’ — Obi knocks FG over global terrorism ranking

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has described Nigeria’s latest ranking on the global terrorism index (GTI) as a troubling reflection of poor leadership.

Obi noted that the country remains one of the most terrorised in the world, with a significant rise in terrorism-related deaths.

According to the GTI, Nigeria recorded the highest global increase in terrorism-related deaths in 2025, with fatalities rising by 46 percent from 513 in 2024 to 750.

This places the country fourth on the GTI ranking, behind Pakistan, Burkina Faso and the Republic of Niger.

In a statement shared on X on Thursday, Obi said that while many countries are recording a decline in terrorism, Nigeria appears to be moving in the opposite direction.

“This trend is a direct result of misplaced priorities, weak governance, corruption, a lack of rule of law, and the persistent neglect of security, which is the government’s most fundamental duty,” the former governor of Anambra wrote.

“From the insurgency of Boko Haram to the growing threat posed by the Islamic State West Africa Province, the crisis of kidnapping, and unchecked violence in our rural communities by heavily armed bandits, Nigerians are dying daily while those in power continue to feast.”

“What is the purpose of government if it cannot protect lives? Why are we normalizing tragedy while other nations make progress?

“This is not the Nigeria we should accept. We cannot continue down this path. It is time to move from excuses to action and from failure to measurable progress.

“A safe and secure Nigeria is not too much to ask; it is the right of every citizen, and it must be delivered.”