Terrorism deaths by Boko Haram dropped by as much as 80 percent in 2016 reflecting an improvement in national security, according to the IEP’s 2017 Global Terrorism Index. However the country could not shed its third position which it retained for the third year running.
According to the Index, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria, four of the five countries most affected by terrorism, recorded 33 percent fewer deaths in 2016. Nigeria recorded the largest decrease at 80 percent. Iraq was the only country among the top five to see an increase within the period.
The Boko Haram group responsible for most of the terrorists-related deaths have faced mounting pressure from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF).
“This year’s report marks a landmark moment in the fight against radical Islamist extremism,” said Steve Killelea, executive chairman of IEP. “Four of the the five most severally affected countries, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria, registered significant reductions in the number of deaths. Togther Boko Haram, the Taliban and al Qa’ida killed 6,000 fewer people in 2016 than in 2015. the decline of Boko Haram in Nigeria is having a positive ripple effect with Cameroon, Chad and Niger collectively recording 75 percent fewer deaths.”
The report notes that attacks and deaths are still highly concentrate with 94 percent of all terrorist deaths taking place in the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa. Central America and the Caribbean is the least affected region with only 12 deaths, or less than 0.4 percent of the total.
“Although these gains are encouraging, there are still serious areas of concern. The future stability of Syria and Iraq will play a critical role in determining the impact of terrorism in the years ahead. In Iraq, the government will face challenges in maintaining a lasting peace through an inclusive society that avoids fuelling sectarian violence.
“The evolving threat of ISIL also remains. while it has suffered significant setbacks to its territory, military strength and funding, the potential for hardened fighters to leave and join new permutations in other conflict ares around the world is very real. OECD countries face this challenge as fighters return from Syria and Iraq with ISIL directed attacks increasing from 11 countries in 2015 to 15 in 2016,” Killelea said.
The report estimates the impact on global economy at $84 billion in 2016 – a reduction of nearly $6 billion compared to 2015. despite the high absolute figure, the economic impact of terrorism is small compared to other major forms of violence. the economic impact of terrorism amounts to just 1 percent of the total global economic impact of violence, which reached $14.3 trillion in 2016
