The Desire to Explore vs. The Fear of the Unknown

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Honestly, taking a solo trip from one end of my country to another shouldn’t be an issue. I have always liked the idea of travelling, seeing new places, meeting new people, and experiencing different cultures within the same country. Moreover, going on a trip would allow me to explore and visit certain places I have never been to before.

However, i would say it is very hard to ignore the negative side of doing that, especially with the current issue of insecurity in the country. Even though I think about moving from one place to another for a trip, the different stories of kidnapping, bandit attacks, and other violent crimes would definitely come to my mind.

These things are actually no longer just something you hear once in a while. It has become regular news in the country. So that alone is enough to make someone reconsider their plans.

I actually don’t think Nigeria is that safe for me to even think of taking a solo trip around the country just for the “fun of it.” It is one thing to travel because you have no choice, maybe for school, work, or family matters. It is another thing entirely to travel just for enjoyment.

The thing is, when you hear about people being kidnapped on the road or from their homes, it makes you think twice. There have been several news reports of people being kidnapped in different parts of the country. Sometimes, they are released after ransom is paid, and sometimes, the story ends in a very painful way.

There was even a recent case where a man lost his sight in the kidnappers’ den because no one could pay the ransom they requested. Stories like that are disturbing and can definitely affect someone's decisions.

I honestly think travelling across the country would be worth it in terms of experience and exposure. i actually think visiting new environments, especially the nothern part of the country, can change my perspective about life, help me grow, and understand people better. But at the same time, I can’t rule out the fact that my life is more precious. As much as I would like to believe that everything will be fine, the reality of the situation makes it difficult.

Now, the thing is that every part of the country has its own security challenges, but the northern side is often reported to have more serious issues. In fact,because of that, I have already decided that if I am posted to a northern state or anywhere really far from my base for my NYSC programme, I would think very carefully before going. To be honest, I might not even go at all. So if I am this cautious about compulsory travel, then going on a solo trip just for fun is something I can not even consider right now.

At the end of the day, as much as I love the idea of exploring my country, i believe my safety comes first. Until things improve, I would rather stay within places I am familiar with than take unnecessary risks..

Thanks for reading.