Highways of Fear: Insecurity’s Impact on Travel in Kaduna, Kebbi and Kwara

In parts of Kaduna State, Kebbi State, and Kwara State, traveling by road is no longer a simple routine it is a calculated risk. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (2023/2024) estimates that Nigerians experienced millions of crime incidents within a year, with kidnapping ranking among the most financially devastating crimes and ransom payments running into trillions of naira nationwide. The North-West region, which includes Kaduna, recorded some of the highest crime figures, reinforcing what many residents already feel: insecurity is not abstract it is personal.

Major documented incidents have deepened that fear. The 2022 attack on the Abuja–Kaduna train route drew international attention and highlighted the vulnerability of major transport corridors. Reports from credible outlets such as the Associated Press and Reuters have continued to document deadly village raids, mass abductions, and attacks on religious sites across parts of the North-West and North-Central regions. Security analysts warn that forested areas spanning state borders have provided armed groups with mobility advantages, making coordinated response difficult.

The impact is visible in everyday life: night travel is avoided, transport fares quietly rise to reflect risk, farmers hesitate to access distant lands, and families rethink inter-state journeys. While federal and state governments have launched joint security operations, experts consistently argue that sustainable solutions must go beyond reactive deployments requiring intelligence reform, stronger rural policing, and economic investment. Until then, for many Nigerians, the road ahead remains uncertain not because of distance, but because of danger.