Nigeria, no doubt, is a very beautiful country with lots of spots to attract tourists and natives. Some of the craziest places in Nigeria, however, are full of intrigues and shrouded with mysteries that we can’t just explain.
Some even hold ancient secrets that can make you shudder.
Here is a list of the wildest places in Nigeria.
Ogbunike caves, Anambra
The Ogbunike caves is one of the strangest places in Nigeria to visit.
As part of its strange and sacred rules, you must be barefoot to climb the 317 steps on its stairs. Rumour has it that the water in one of its 10 tunnels is therapeutic and has healing powers.
It’s really exciting to visit this eerie place, as many of the tunnels are interconnected and make for a good adventure. Sha don’t get lost.
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The juju of Arochukwu
Primarily a religious site and then, a tourist attraction, the Long Juju Shrine of Arochukwu is one of the scariest places in Nigeria.
A long time ago, criminals received judgment at the shrine. The accused would walk into the tunnels of Arochukwu, where Chukwu was waiting in judgment. There, they would find the throne of judgment – the dark presence (“the Holy of Holies”).
Those found guilty walked into dark tunnels, and the innocents went back to their relatives.
The site consists of kilometer-long tunnels which include places like the throne of judgment, the tunnel of disappearance, and the red river that became colored when a person died.
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Miracle stream, Enugu
You can call it Nigeria’s Bethsaida.
People in Enugu were surprised when the stream reappeared in 2013 after it disappeared from the same spot 43 years before. Nicknamed ‘Ormiri Jordan’ by the locals in the area, this stream is said to have healing powers.
After its reappearance, many people went there with different ailments and reportedly emerged healed after bathing in the river. If this doesn’t make it one of the craziest places in Nigeria, then I don’t know what is.
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Zuma Rock, Niger
If you don’t see Zuma rock, Zuma rock sees you.
The Zuba people of Niger State found the rock in the 15th century and called it zumwa, which could translate to “a place of guinea fowls,” due to their abundance around the rock. They settled around the rock and came to see it as a spiritual guide, making sacrifices to the rock to keep them safe from harm.
The most notable thing about Zuma rock is the facelike features on it – nose, mouth, and eyes that seem to follow you everywhere. It tends to catch fire during the rainy season; according to the locals, this is how the deity of the rock watches over them.
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Agbokim waterfall, Enugu
Discovered in the ’90s by a hunter named Ntakum, this waterfall is a seven-faced wonder with seven streams cascading over steep cliffs.
The wildest thing is that the water source is from dead plants, and boiling the water from Agbokim forms salt. There is also an occasional rainbow that appears over the waterfall; this makes it a beautiful sight to behold.
Riyom rock, Plateau
This rock is known locally as ‘Beta Betat’, which means ‘three stones’.
The strange thing about this rock is the way these mighty boulders have stayed on top of one another in that delicate position for thousands, if not millions of years. One cannot but be in awe of the majestic wonders of nature.
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Ado-awaye suspended lake, Oyo
Also known as Iyake Lake Known, this is the only recognized suspended/hanging lake in Africa. It is also one of the only two in the world.
No one knows the depth, it is believed to have swallowed those who have tried to measure it. Till today, whoever enters the lake never comes out of it.
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Osun sacred groove
The Osun sacred grove is named after Osun, the Yoruba deity or Orisa of fertility. According to mythology, Osun had a fight with one of Sango‘s wives and changed herself into the Osun River.
Natives believe the grove is sacred, as the deity still lives in the river. The goddess and the people of Osun had an agreement that she would protect the people if they built a shrine for her and protect the grove.
The Giant Footprint of Ukhuse Oke
This is where prehistory and modernity meet in one of the craziest places in Nigeria.
Forever etched on flat granite rocks in a sacred grove, between the villages of Ukhuse-oke and Ukhuseosi, is the distinct footprints of a prehistoric giant.
This old tourist destination in the Lulehe Clan of Owan West Local Government, Edo State, provides a significant challenge to both archaeologists and anthropologists. Why? They believe the footprints were formed when the planet was still in its molten state.
Alok Ikom Monoliths
The Ikom Monoliths are a collection of stone carvings in and around Ikom in Cross River State, Nigeria. The Ekoi people who live there are scattered across numerous villages. The stone monoliths go by several names, including Akwanshi, Atal, and Alaptal.
About 350 carved monoliths are in groups at 35 places evenly dispersed among the seven principal people of Cross River State. They are Abanyom, Akaju, Akpanobong, Nde, Nnam in the Ejagham nation, Nselle, and Nta.
Every stone and monolith signifies a different ancestor. Oral tradition holds that the Ekoi people’s ancestors placed the stones where they are now. They believe their forefathers pulled the stones out of the river and used stones and irons to carve out the faces.
Each one of the faces represents a deceased chief whose name remains unknown.
Ese awon agba, Oyo
The name literally means “footprints of the elders”. These are giant footprints on a mountain in Oyo state.
Many say that the gods once walked over the mountain to protect the locals when the latter still lived on the mountain. This makes it one of the craziest places in Nigeria.
The Ancient Nok Settlement
Located in Jaba local government in the southern part of Kaduna, the Nok village is within a rock shelter. And even after Nok art has become a world heritage, the village is still devoid of modern technology.
The village was the site of the discovery of the renowned Nok terracotta figurines, one of Africa’s oldest civilizations. The ruins echo the history of the Nok people and are a testament to their creativity and resilience.
Sungbo Eredo
The largest city in the ancient world, the ruins of an ancient kingdom known as Sungbo Eredo lie in the rainforests of the southwest. According to archaeologists, it is a lost kingdom that existed between the 10th and 13th centuries.
Second in size only to the Great Wall of China, Sungbos Eredo in Ijebu-Ode is a staggeringly impressive hand-built system of defense walls. These fortifications date back to around the year 1,000 and are located just an hour’s drive from Lagos.
The name ‘Sungbo’ derives from an Ijebu noblewoman named Bilikisu Sungbo. A wealthy and industrious widow greatly revered by her people, she built this monument as a personal memorial.
The best time to visit Sungbo’s Eredo is during the dry season. The trail leads deep into the forest, so wear loose, comfortable clothing and walking boots. Hire a tour guide also, as the site is difficult to navigate without an expert.
