This paper analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution of armed conflicts and terrorism in Nigeria and the associated shift in social perceptions. Using data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) Project and the Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone (GDELT), the authors find that conflicts have become more spatially widespread and temporally uniform. Economic decay, erosion of democracy, and increased corruption are highly correlated with the rise in conflicts. Post-COVID-19, societal perception has shifted towards accepting the high levels of conflict as a 'new normal'. The authors call for better economic development and enhanced international cooperation.

Fanglei Wang, Jianbo Gao, Yuting Liu