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the suburbs in ikare where the ghosts are friendly (and the rent won't haunt you)

@Grace Miller2/8/2026blog
the suburbs in ikare where the ghosts are friendly (and the rent won't haunt you)

okay, real talk about ikare suburbs. i’ve been here with my emf reader and a weird sense of curiosity for three years, chasing whispers and affordable rent. this ain’t some polished brochure. it’s the dirt, the dust, and the places where your generator might just die at 2am because someone, something, tripped the line. first, the map so you don’t get lost and actually find these spots.


*the air here right now is like wet laundry that’s been left out in a tropical steam bath. heavy, humid, clings to your skin. it’s the kind of heat that makes old paint bubble on houses and makes you wish you’d listened to your mom about drinking more water. you’re a short, rattling motorbike ride (what we call ‘okada’) from akure if you need a less… energetic vibe, or a dusty bus trip toward Ondo town for bigger markets.

let’s get into it. i’m not a realtor, i’m a skeptic with a backpack. but i’ve listened to the bar talk, the market gossip, and checked too many power meters.

alagbaka: where your wifi is fast and your neighbors are ghosts of bankers



alagbaka is the go-to if you’re a young professional with a remote gig and a caffeine problem. you’ll see co-working shacks popping up next to tiny churches. the rent for a decent 2-bedroom apartment with (usually) stable light is somewhere between ₦300,000 to ₦450,000 a month. job market here? it’s all freelance designers, small-time import/export hustlers, and a surprising number of people who worked inlagos and came back to ‘retire’ early. safety is… relative. keep your doors locked, not just from humans. the old tales about the ‘mad woman of alagbaka hill’ who sings at midnight? yeah, she’s real, and she knows your wifi password. probably.

narrow street with colorful buildings


> overheard at bessty market: "don’t rent the pink bungalow on school road. the previous tenant left after the pots started washing themselves. i’m not joking. the sink fills up by itself at 3am."

oke-ogun: for families who want a yard and a scary story for the kids



this is where families actually put down roots. more space, quieter, actual trees that aren’t just by the road. you can get a 3-bedroom with a small garden for ₦250k-₦350k. schools here are the ‘missionary’ types-strict, uniformed, with a chapel on site. the job scene is slower, mostly trading, local government, and farming on the outskirts. the vibe is ‘everyone knows your business,’ which is great for babysitting swaps and terrible for privacy. and the spirits here are the territorial kind. the ‘small man’ who crosses the road at the old iroko tree near the junction? he’s not small. don’t look at his feet.

idanre hill view: the scenic trap



you want the ‘gram-worthy sunset over the hills? sure. you’ll pay for it. rent is oddly high for what you get-often ₦400k+ for a medium apartment because of the view. it’s mostly occupied by older civil servants and a few expats on short contracts. the wind up here is no joke, it’ll rip your laundry off the line and into the next compound. big downside? it’s a climb. if your car breaks down, you’re hiking. and the energy up here is… palpably old. not bad, just full of history that doesn’t need permission to visit.

hilly landscape with houses

my ugly, honest summary (the drunk advice part):


- if you’re 23 and freelancing: alagbaka. accept the weirdness, the noise, the occasional ‘poltergeist in the power grid.’ your social life will be better.
- if you have toddlers and a minivan: oke-ogun. plant some peppers, make friends with the grandmother across the street. ignore the knocking on your window that sounds like a child’s hand when no one’s home.
- if you have money to burn and love drama: idanre hill view. you’ll either have a spiritual awakening or get robbed. it’s a coin toss.

actual data drop, because someone asked: average rent for a 2-bedroom in ikare metro is ₦320,000/month. inflation is eating that alive though. safety index is a tough one-violent crime is lower than lagos, but ‘petty’ theft and spiritual scams (yes, people pay to have curses removed) are common. use your gut. if a deal on a house seems too good, the ghosts probably already have a lease.

check out these links if you want the non-paranormal version of some of this:
- the yelp page for local eateries in alagbaka (the jollof rice spots change monthly, it’s a blood sport).
- this reddit thread from a year ago is mostly still relevant about power and internet.
- tripadvisor for the, uh, cultural* attractions. the hill is impressive. the museum is often closed.

bottom line: ikare doesn’t have ‘best’ suburbs. it has ‘least haunted for your budget’ suburbs. pack your salt, your sense of humor, and don’t believe everything you hear at the beer parlor. especially from me.

haunted-looking overgrown path

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About the author: Grace Miller

Student of life, taking notes for everyone else.

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