Nigeria ranks highest in West Africa on Organised Crime Index

Nigeria has been identified as a major hub for transnational organised crime, ranking first in West Africa, third in Africa, and eighth globally on the Organised Crime Index.

The Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Joseph Ochogwu, raised the alarm on Monday in Abuja, warning that the country must urgently address the growing link between organised crime, conflict and national instability.

Speaking at a one-day roundtable on “The Crime–Conflict Link: Key Trends in Illicit Markets and Instability in Nigeria,” Ochogwu said illicit economies such as arms trafficking, drug trade, resource smuggling and human trafficking are increasingly fueling insecurity across the country.

He warned that unless decisive action is taken, criminal networks will continue to deepen instability, communal violence and long-term developmental challenges.

“The alarming figure highlights the urgent need for authorities to focus on the growing link between crime, conflict, and instability across the country,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Research Coordinator for the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, Kingsley Madueke, noted that many armed and violent groups now rely heavily on criminal markets to finance their activities.

According to him, this growing dependence makes it increasingly difficult to tackle insecurity without disrupting the financial networks that sustain such groups.

Madueke added that organised crime continues to weaken governance structures, destabilise economies and erode social cohesion in several conflict-affected communities.

He stressed that understanding the intersection between crime and conflict is essential for designing effective peacebuilding strategies and strengthening national resilience.

The roundtable was organised by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution in collaboration with the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime.

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