UK Foreign Office issues travel warning to its citizens asking that they avoid 24 Nigerian states

BRITAIN has issued a stern travel warning to its citizens planning to visit Nigeria urging them to avoid visiting 24 states because of a recent upsurge in violence that includes kidnapping and armed robbery.

 

Over recent months, there has been a sudden surge in violence in the country, particularly in northern Nigeria, where youths armed with AK47s has resorted to banditry and kidnapping. Several motorways across the country are now no-go areas, as armed bandit have become highway robbers, abducting travellers and whisking them off into forest hideouts, where they keep them until their families pay hefty ransom fees.

 

Those whose families do not pay up are executed in an orgy of violence that has seen the security forces being totally overwhelmed. In response to the crisis, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned its citizens against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

 

In the warning posted on the Foreign Office's website, Britons were also warned against visiting an area of 20km close to the border with Niger Republic in Zamfara State. It also warned against all but essential travel to Bauchi, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina, Kogi states and within 20km of the border with Niger Republic in Sokoto and Kebbi states, as well as the non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Abia states.

 

“Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Nigeria. Most attacks occur in the northeast, particularly in Borno, including central Maiduguri and along access routes connecting the city to other major towns and along the Niger Republic border, including in Damasak, Yobe State and Adamawa States.

 

“There have also been significant attacks in Gombe, Kano, Kaduna, Jos and Bauchi States and in the federal capital, Abuja. The terrorist threat across eastern Yobe and Borno states is high, with frequent recent attacks.

 

"Terrorist groups carried out attacks in northeast Nigeria during the February 2019 election period and further attacks are likely. We continue to advise against all travel to Borno and Yobe states.”

Share