Reconsider Travel
“Reconsider travelto Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, unrest, kidnapping, and inconsistent availability of health care services. Some areas have increased risk.”
Updated Fri, 12 Jun 2026
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Is Ibadan safe? 🇳🇬
Nigeria · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Ibadan scores 36/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: caution advised. No. Ibadan is not safe for travelers due to elevated crime, kidnapping risks, and government advisories urging reconsideration of travel. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (high risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 3 (Reconsider Travel).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Ibadan 🇳🇬
Nigeria · Assessed 7 October 2026
36
/ 100
Caution advised
Safer than ~21% of countries
Score capped at 44 — Level 3 advisory — reconsider travel. No other indicator can raise the score above this.
What drives this score
Crime45/100CautionCrime index 66.6 / 100
Sentiment46/100CautionMostly cautious
Advisories25Elevated
Stability40Caution
Health73Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Elevated
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against travel North East Nigeria FCDO advises against all travel to: Borno State Yobe State Adamawa State Gombe State FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: Bauchi State North West Nigeria FCDO advises against all travel to: Katsina State Zamfara State FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: Kaduna State Kano State Kebbi State Jigawa State Sokoto State North Central Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, including Abuja FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: Niger State Kogi State Plateau State Taraba State Kwara State Benue State South East and South South Nigeria FCDO advises against all travel to the riverine areas (the river and swamp locations accessible by boat, but not by road) of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.”
Updated 2026-10-07T10:19:17Z
Full advisory →Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Nigeria: avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-10-05T14:30:52.2776643-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Caution
Urban scale factor
3.6M residents
52
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
15.7 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Nigeria15.7Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
33
Robbery / mugging
HighArmed robbery and kidnapping occur frequently on highways like the Ibadan-Ijebu and Lagos-Ibadan Expressways, especially at night
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching are common in crowded areas such as Dugbe market and public transport hubs
▸ 3 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Caution
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Caution
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly cautious
46/100
Reported feel42Mostly cautious
Robbery risk34High risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
Traveler reports indicate wariness due to crime and kidnappings, though some note Ibadan feels safer than Lagos during daylight hours in secure neighborhoods.
No. Ibadan is not safe for travelers due to elevated crime, kidnapping risks, and government advisories urging reconsideration of travel.
Ibadan faces moderate to high risks of robbery and pickpocketing, particularly on highways and in commercial areas, with recent kidnappings and protests highlighting instability. While some residential neighborhoods like Bodija and Jericho are relatively safer, visitors should avoid night travel and remain vigilant against scams and petty theft.
Recent developments
- Aug 2026Seven killed and two injured in a crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway— TVC News
- Jun 2026Protests erupted in Ibadan over the abduction of pupils and teachers— Nigerian Voice
- Apr 2026Gunmen attacked travelers on the Ibadan-Ijebu expressway, leaving one dead and others missing— The Guardian Nigeria News
- Jun 2026University of Ibadan commented on the abduction of a 300-level law student— Blueprint Newspapers
Common scams
- Fake police checkpoints demanding bribes
- Advance-fee and romance scams targeting foreigners
- ATM fraud and card skimming
Full briefing
Ibadan presents notable safety challenges for visitors, particularly due to crime and kidnapping risks on major highways. Recent reports confirm armed attacks on the Ibadan-Ijebu and Lagos-Ibadan Expressways, including a fatal incident in April 2026 where gunmen assaulted travelers and left others missing. Protests over abductions of students and teachers have occurred repeatedly since June 2026, reflecting ongoing community insecurity. While the city center and residential areas like Bodija and Jericho are considered relatively safer during daylight, the Dugbe commercial zone sees frequent pickpocketing and scams targeting visitors.
Travelers should avoid all non-essential road travel after dark, especially on intercity routes where highway banditry is prevalent. Petty crime such as pickpocketing is common in crowded markets and bus stations, and fake police checkpoints are used to extort bribes from foreigners. Advance-fee and romance scams, along with ATM fraud, are also reported in traveler forums. Staying in secure accommodations, using trusted transport, and avoiding displays of wealth are essential precautions. Despite some residents reporting a sense of safety in certain neighborhoods, the overall environment remains risky, and government advisories from the U.S., UK, and Canada uniformly urge reconsideration of travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping threats.
Was this Ibadan, Nigeria report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Ibadan districts for visitors: 3 safer, 4 needing caution and 1 best avoided. See them plotted on the Ibadan safety map.
SokaavoidNotorious for ritual killings and criminal hideouts; avoid entirely, particularly at night.
DugbecautionBusy commercial hub; petty theft and scams common in markets and transport zones.
OjoocautionIndustrial and transport corridor; elevated robbery risk, especially after dark and on highways.
Iwo RoadcautionMajor artery with frequent highway banditry; exercise caution, avoid night travel.
ChallengecautionDensely populated area with sporadic petty crime and scams; remain vigilant with belongings.
BodijasaferWell-maintained residential area with lower crime rates; popular with expats and families.
JerichosaferAffluent and secure neighbourhood; generally safe for visitors, especially during daylight.
Agodi GRAsaferGovernment Reserved Area with better infrastructure and security presence; low incidence of violent crime.
07 · After Dark
Is Ibadan safe at night?
86% of people in Nigeria say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2023).
Armed robbery and kidnapping occur frequently on highways like the Ibadan-Ijebu and Lagos-Ibadan Expressways, especially at night
After dark, be most careful around Soka, Dugbe, Ojoo, Iwo Road. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Ibadan safety FAQ (2026)
Is Ibadan safe right now (2026)?
No. Ibadan is not safe for travelers due to elevated crime, kidnapping risks, and government advisories urging reconsideration of travel. Ibadan faces moderate to high risks of robbery and pickpocketing, particularly on highways and in commercial areas, with recent kidnappings and protests highlighting instability. While some residential neighborhoods like Bodija and Jericho are relatively safer, visitors should avoid night travel and remain vigilant against scams and petty theft. (Assessed 7 October 2026.)
Is Ibadan safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Ibadan report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Ibadan should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Soka as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Ibadan (2026)?
- Fake police checkpoints demanding bribes
- Advance-fee and romance scams targeting foreigners
- ATM fraud and card skimming
How does Ibadan compare with other places in Nigeria (2026)?
Ibadan ranks #4 of 9 Nigeria destinations we've assessed, scoring 36/100. See the Nigeria safety overview for the full list.
How is this ibadan safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 13+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: ibadan.json (CC BY 4.0).