TERRORISM is a global scourge that humanity must continue to combat by “Healing through Memory,” the theme of the 2026 International Day for the Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.

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The annual commemoration on August 21 highlights the importance of keeping alive the memories of victims of terrorism while helping survivors and affected communities heal and rebuild, according to the UN.

Nigeria began witnessing the devastating impact of Islamic terrorism in 2009, when Boko Haram launched its campaign against the Nigerian state in the North-East. The insurgency has claimed more than 100,000 lives, according to Vice-President Kashim Shettima, and led to the abduction of thousands of schoolchildren, including the Chibok and Dapchi schoolgirls.

This year’s theme reminds the world that one of the strongest weapons against terrorism is the continued preservation and responsible telling of the stories of its victims. Such stories must be used in ways that strengthen the fight against terrorism and raise the bar in the global campaign against the menace.

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Across the world, horror stories abound of how terrorism has upended entire societies and inflicted unforgettable pain and misery. Such experiences can understandably provoke anger and a desire for revenge among survivors and those connected to victims through family and other relationships.

However, remembrance must promote proper memorialisation and collective memory as instruments for helping survivors and communities heal and rebuild. Rather than evoking painful memories in ways that fuel hatred and revenge, remembrance should challenge humanity to prevent the exploitation of victims’ stories to spread hate, particularly across digital spaces.

Such memories must inspire healing and reinforce the need to keep digital and public spaces respectful and safe, so that victims are not subjected to further trauma. This also reaffirms the global commitment to supporting survivors and keeping their voices central to counter-terrorism efforts.

According to Vision of Humanity, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia remain global hotspots of terrorism, with nearly 70 per cent of the world’s 5,582 terrorism deaths in 2025 occurring in Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, Nigeria and Mali.

The figures, reported in the Global Terrorism Index published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, show the severity of the crisis. Specific figures for the Sahel countries of Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic run into several thousand fatalities.

The Rabdan Security and Defence Institute states that the Sahel in sub-Saharan Africa has remained the most acute epicentre of global terrorism. The region hosts some of the world’s deadliest terrorist organisations, including Islamic State affiliates such as ISWAP and Boko Haram, as well as Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen.

📰 Source: Punch Nigeria