Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Maiduguri, 4 Others Named as Most Dangerous Cities in Nigeria

Port Harcourt has been ranked the most dangerous city in Nigeria, with 85 incidents reported, primarily involving violent crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping. This revelation is part of a report by SB Morgen (SBM) Intelligence, a research firm that identified major cities and highways prone to theft, attacks, and road hazards across the country.

The report lists Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Lagos, Jos, Calabar, Kano, Eleme Junction in Rivers State, and Onitsha in Anambra as the eight most dangerous cities in Nigeria.

Maiduguri and Lagos follow Port Harcourt, with 52 and 32 incidents, respectively. Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, continues to grapple with insurgency, while Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, experiences urban crime concentrated in densely populated areas.

Highlighting additional security concerns, the report noted the dangers along the Makurdi-Jos route, which suffers from youth gang violence and farmer-pastoral conflicts. These often result in roadblocks and attacks on motorists, exposing lapses in government security measures.

Jos, Calabar, and Kano recorded 18 to 23 incidents, largely stemming from communal clashes and urban theft. Eleme Junction and Onitsha each saw 15 cases of theft and related crimes, with Onitsha’s trade routes proving particularly vulnerable.

The report also flagged the Port Harcourt-Warri route as surpassing the Abuja-Kaduna highway in danger levels, due to the prevalence of kidnapping for ransom.

Infrastructural deficiencies, including potholes, poor drainage systems, and traffic congestion, were cited as contributing factors to insecurity. The report calls for strategic interventions to address these challenges and improve safety nationwide.