Just finished our trip through Nigeria and have some facts about checkpoints
From Benin to Cameroon via Chikada, Kaiama, Bida, Abuja, Makurdi, Oboja to Ekok via Drill ranch.
A total of 53 official checkpoints - either police, military or road safety. No problems at all - most did not stop us, the ones who did were usually friendly and responsive to our 'Good Morning, how are you' (big smile). Maybe 2 or 3 suggested a cold water/ gift but only halfheartedly and were very easily distracted.
The stickmen were our curse - we encountered 27 stickmen!! 17 of those were in the Cross River region taking the back road to Drill farm and then onto the border. Locals tell us that there has been an explosion in their numbers this past year and they have become increasingly violent/ aggressive.
The most aggressive stickmen we encountered were the 'famous' ones west of Abuja, then east of Abuja ( tried to rip off our wing mirror) They patrol the city bound traffic side of the highway but stormed in number over the carraigeway to surround us when they saw white people.
And the other very nasty one was in Oboja - very very luckily - a chinese engineer was being driven around with a armed military guard and he told his guard to come and rescue us. Very lucky escape.

Liked the Nigeria welcome and smile but hated the stickmen.

Thank you for sharing up to date informationsd!

We did often drive through - where officials try to stop us.

If we had stopped anytime - maybe our thinking back to nigeria, would be a lot worse

But it is not that easy, when they wear heavy weapons - to still ignoring them.

Surfy

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About Overlanding, Travelogues, Equipment
Trans-Africa over the west coast

Yeah - we drove through many points pretending to not understand they wanted us to stop - but the officials were not the issue.
The stickmen have no heavy weapons - only a long board with big sharp nails they put infront and behind your car to stop you driving away. Trick is to get past them before they get the chance to put these boards down......
A game of chance. lol

Well done ;-)

Wearing a Nigerian football shirt helps with 'disputes' if you can't get past them. Or one in plan view in the car. Only a few euros, know a few players like John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses (from Chelsea) and turn on your bullshit tap...

Failing that a machete stashed next to your seat and then unsubtly placed on the dashboard shows you aren't going to be ****ed with (easily).

These guys are mostly very friendly to us overlanders. No bribing, no hassle, just chatting.

I guess we should not try to get some thrill there, just because 1-2 a bit more worse experiences

We are guests in these countrys with limited rights. If we challange these stickmens, they will get armed soon with real weapons, something we should not keep pace.

Have a read about the experience of other current travellers, the overall experience in nigeria is pretty good. Here is a list of travellers:

Trans-Africa: Gerade Unterwegs...

Surfy

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About Overlanding, Travelogues, Equipment
Trans-Africa over the west coast

I mostly agree Surfy, to repeat what I said in more detail, smiles, laughter, discussion, football, distraction etc is the best way to go and saw me unharmed over my long trip.... (Previous trips I have been attacked, not in Nigeria).

But if things are looking genuinely threatening it can help to subtly show that your not completely defenceless and weak.... It's a difficult call as it can escalate the situation.

In South Africa locals told me to always use a big machete as part of any breakdown or flat tyre situation, never did, but thought it was an interesting comment.

I always kept a machete in its sheath next to my seat because it was the best things for clearing the diffs and axles when stuck, cutting branches, looking for scorpions etc. Twice I subtly placed it in the wind screen with a little of the blade showing when I felt a situation was starting to get out of hand... it was pointed at, discussions behind closed hands, tension dropped a little....

Whatever you do, don't pull out a gun! ;-)

Btw, in some ways we have more rights and protection, and in others we are completely exposed as you say.