The United Kingdom (UK) has warned its citizens not to travel to twelve states in Nigeria over insecurity.
This was stated in a travel advisory issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The UK government told its citizens there’s a high threat of kidnap all over Nigeria for ideological, financial or political gain.
UK citizens have been warned to avoid Borno, Yobe, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Zamfara, and Adamawa states.
Also, the FCDO advised its citizens against non-essential travel to Bauchi, Kano, Jigawa , Niger, Sokoto and Kogi states.
Part of the travel advisory read: “Foreign nationals, including humanitarian workers, are likely targets for kidnap. Humanitarian hubs and humanitarian workers have been targeted during attacks in the North East, including Monguno, Borno State on 13 June 2020.
“The security environment in the North East has deteriorated since 2018 and there is a heightened risk of kidnapping of humanitarian and private-sector workers.
“There are also reports that Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) have an active plan to kidnap foreigners. As well as in North-East Nigeria, extremist groups operate in some northern and middle belt states including Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Kogi, Kaduna, Niger and Adamawa states.
“If you are working or travelling in these States then you should be aware of the risk of terrorist kidnapping.”
While highlighting the level of insecurity in the country, the UK government also warned against attacks and killings in South-East regions.
The advisory read: “There have also been a number of attacks and targeted killings in the South-east and South-South regions of Nigeria, including in the states of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Abia, Anambra, Delta, Edo and Ebonyi. Some of these attacks have been on isolated roads and in remote locations, but there is a chance that they could occur in metropolitan areas.”
The government advised UK citizens travelling to these regions to be careful and follow local news and information outlets for additional information, including on local curfews.
