By Abiola Olawale
The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a travel advisory, advising British citizens to avoid all travel to six Nigerian states due to escalating security threats from terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime.
This was contained in the latest Foreign Travel Advice released by the GOV.UK and sighted on Sunday.
In the latest advisory, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said British citizens should avoid travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina, and Zamfara states.
The agency said that insecurity “is increasing across Nigeria,” adding that “kidnapping, violent crime, and intercommunal violence occur throughout all regions of Nigeria.”
The advisory called on British nationals to exercise extreme caution, review safety procedures, and ensure they have contingency plans in place.
According to the statement, the UK warned that “humanitarian personnel, vehicles, supplies, and infrastructure can be targeted by terrorists and criminals.”
It also advised against all but essential travel to Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, and Taraba states, as well as the outer suburbs of Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory.
“Violent crime, often involving firearms, has increased and spread from the outer suburbs to more central, wealthier areas of the city,” the FCDO said.
“British Government staff in Nigeria have been advised to restrict travel to an area broadly within the Abuja metropolitan area.”
It also highlighted protests in Abuja as potential flashpoints.
“There are protests in Abuja from time to time, which can turn violent. Monitor local media, avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, and follow instructions from local police and security forces,” it added.
In the South-East and South-South regions, the FCDO warns against all travel to “the riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.”
“Militant groups are active across the Niger Delta region and have carried out many attacks on oil and gas infrastructure.”
