DHQ Questions Terrorism Ranking As Government Cracks Down On Terror Financiers.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has challenged Nigeria’s latest ranking in the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), questioning the credibility of the report, even as the Federal Government (FG) intensifies efforts to combat terrorism financing.
DHQ Disputes GTI Report
According to the GTI 2025 report, Nigeria has risen to sixth place globally in terms of terrorism impact, up from eighth position in previous years. The report, released on Wednesday, ranked Burkina Faso as the most terrorism-affected country, followed by Pakistan, Syria, Mali, and Niger. Nigeria’s GTI score of 7.658 was based on recorded terrorism-related fatalities, which increased from 533 in 2023 to 565 in 2024.
Despite this, the DHQ has dismissed the report, arguing that foreign assessments do not accurately reflect the security situation in Nigeria. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-General Markus Kangye, insisted that Nigeria’s military reports offer a more reliable picture than external evaluations.
“Something is happening in my house. I am the head of the house. I have children, I have a wife, and then an outsider is reporting what is happening in my house to me. Which one would be more correct?” he questioned, urging the media to verify information before disseminating it.
Military’s Counter-Terrorism Successes
The Nigerian military has continued its operations against terrorist groups, reporting significant successes in the past week. According to DHQ, security forces neutralised 92 terrorists, arrested 111 individuals, and rescued 75 hostages between 27 February and 6 March 2025. Among those eliminated was Abba Alai, a notorious terrorist commander, also known as Amirul Khalid of Alafa.
Additionally, troops intercepted 18 suspected oil thieves and recovered stolen petroleum products worth over ₦521 million.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to collaborating with neighbouring Sahelian states, despite their recent withdrawal from ECOWAS. Speaking in Abuja during a visit from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger’s Sahelian Think Tank delegation, Musa highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in addressing terrorism and security challenges.
Government Freezes Terrorism Financiers’ Assets
In a decisive move against terrorism financing, the Federal Government has frozen the assets of 17 individuals and organisations accused of supporting terrorist activities. Those affected include Simon Ekpa and the extremist group Lakurawa, among others.
According to an official document, the directive, approved by the President upon the recommendation of the Attorney General of the Federation, mandates banks and financial institutions to:
1. Identify and freeze all funds and assets belonging to the designated individuals and entities.
2. Report any frozen assets to the Nigeria Sanctions Committee.
3. File suspicious transaction reports with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
Ekpa, a self-proclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is alleged to have facilitated 49 international fundraising campaigns between October 2023 and September 2024, which were used to finance attacks on government installations in the Southeast.
Similarly, the Lakurawa group has been designated a terrorist organisation due to its violent activities, including assassinations, extortion, and the imposition of radical Islamist rule in some communities. Intelligence reports indicate that the group finances its operations through forced taxation, cattle rustling, and ransom payments from kidnappings.
As security forces continue their counter-terrorism operations and the government tightens measures against terrorism financing, Nigeria’s security landscape remains a subject of intense debate.