Nigeria’s Most Dangerous Routes: Death Traps and Insecurity Hotspots

Across Nigeria, millions rely on highways that have now become war zones, crash sites, and gravesites. From tanker explosions to kidnappings, and from potholes the size of cars to entire bridges collapsing, Nigeria’s roads are not just failing, they’re killing.

Also Read: The Most Dangerous Roads in the World and Why They’re So Risky

In this investigative feature, RoadKing.ng highlights 10 of the most dangerous roads in Nigeria, notorious for deadly crashes and chilling cases of banditry, robbery, and abduction.

These are not isolated incidents, they are part of a national failure that demands urgent, collective action.

1. Abuja-Kaduna Expressway: A National Crisis Corridor

This 165km highway is perhaps Nigeria’s most feared road today. Once a major commuter route between the capital and Kaduna State, it has earned a bloody reputation.

Frequent Issues: Kidnappings, armed robbery, vehicle ambushes.

Travel Advisory: Most commuters now opt for rail or air despite cost.

Recent case: In May 2024, over 20 travelers were abducted in a single incident near Rijana village (Punch, 2024).

2. East-West Road: A Billion-Naira Death Trap

Stretching from Warri to Oron through Port Harcourt and Yenagoa, this road should be a symbol of Niger Delta prosperity. Instead, it is riddled with:

Potholes the size of wells, collapsed bridges, and erosion gullies.

Security risks: Militants and cult groups exploit remote spots.

Tragic Fact: Between January and May 2025, at least 63 fatal crashes were reported on this road segment alone ([FRSC Annual Report, 2025]).

3. Lokoja–Okene–Benin Highway: Tanker Terror Alley

The Lokoja–Benin axis is a nightmare, particularly for heavy-duty trucks and fuel tankers.

Key hazards: Slippery slopes, failed brakes, deep potholes.

Insecurity: Robbery spots around Okene and Gegu Junction.

Recent Tragedy: A Toyota Sienna with a family of 4 died at Gegu in July 2025 after plunging into a deep water-filled pothole.

4. Enugu–Onitsha Expressway: A Road of Regret

What should be a major South-East artery is a crumbling relic:

Condition: Sections of the road are now impassable, especially around Awka and Umunya.

Safety Concern: Robbers operate freely in traffic jams and breakdowns at night.

Unfulfilled promise: Over N20 billion budgeted for repairs in the last decade — yet the road remains broken.

5. Maiduguri–Damaturu Road: Treading With Terror

Located in the insurgency-prone North-East, this road has become a battleground.

Threats: Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks, IEDs, ambushes.

Unthinkable Reality: Civilians travel in fear, with convoys often escorted by the military.

Incident in Focus: April 2025, Four aid workers killed when their vehicle hit a landmine near Jakana.

6. Ore–Benin–Shagamu Expressway: The Axle Breaker

Known for its single-lane diversions and cratered tarmac:

Danger: Sudden U-turns, failed brakes, and rear-end collisions.

Insecurity Factor: Opportunistic robbers capitalize on stalled vehicles in traffic.

Crash Rate: Over 120 fatal crashes recorded in 2024 alone (FRSC Zone 6 Data, 2024).

7. Zaria–Gusau–Sokoto Road: The Forgotten North

Once a key Northern trade route, now a stretch of dust and dread.

Deadly combo: Bandit-infested zones and zero road maintenance.

Kidnap Incidents: Entire buses have been intercepted and passengers abducted in daylight.

Call for Action: Locals say police presence has thinned drastically in the last 2 years.

8. Ajaokuta–Itobe–Nsukka Road: A Road to Nowhere

This stretch is both narrow and deadly, especially during the rainy season.

Dangers: Unmarked sharp bends, no road shoulders, massive erosion.

Security issues: Bandits frequently attack slow-moving or broken-down vehicles.

Infrastructural Fail: No road lights, no emergency phone lines, and zero camera surveillance.

9. Okenne–Lokoja–Abuja Highway (Gegu Junction)

Gegu Junction has become infamous, often called “The Road That Eats Its People.”

Recent incident: July 2025, A Toyota Sienna rolled off-road and crashed into a drainage culvert after hitting a submerged pothole.

Victims: A family of four, father, mother, and two children, perished instantly.

Eyewitness account: “That hole is a trap. If your tire hits it, you lose control.”

10. Ibadan–Ijebu Ode Road: Slippery Slaughter Stretch

A daily route for thousands of commercial buses and private cars, yet utterly neglected.

Crash drivers: Slippery post-rain surfaces, hidden potholes, poor signage.

Robbery risk: Holdups reported near Iperu and Ilishan junctions during early morning hours.

Why This Matters!!!

According to the Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria records over 41,000 road traffic crashes annually, resulting in more than 6,000 deaths every year ([FRSC National Data, 2024]).

Beyond road conditions, insecurity is now the second most common reason Nigerians avoid inter-state travel.

RoadKing.ng’s Call to Action

-To the Government: Expedite critical repairs, deploy armed road patrols, and install road surveillance infrastructure.

-To Commuters: Avoid known danger zones at night, use verified transport operators, and always notify family of travel plans.

-To Everyone: Join RoadKing.ng in demanding safer roads. Tag your state government. Share crash sites. Push for action.

Conclusion

Every pothole, every ambush, and every failed promise costs a life.

It’s no longer enough to accept this as the norm. We must call it what it is: a national emergency. Because until our roads are safe, no one truly is.