“Stay Away From These 24 Nigerian States” – United Kingdom Warns Its Citizens

The United Kingdom government has issued a warning to its citizens in Nigeria to stay away from 24 states in Nigeria prone to terror attacks and insecurity issues.

In a statement posted on the website of Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom on Tuesday, the UK government advised its citizens from visiting some blacklisted states because terrorists are likely to carry out terror attacks in those states.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to:

• Borno State
• Yobe State
• Adamawa State
• Gombe State
• Riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States
• Within 20km of the border with Niger in Zamfara State.

The FCO further advised against all but essential travel to:

• Bauchi State
• Zamfara State
• Kano State
• Kaduna State
• Jigawa State
• Katsina State
• Kogi State
• Within 20km of the border with Niger in Sokoto and Kebbi States
• Non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Abia State.

The UK Government adviced British nationals to avoid crowds including political meetings, religious gatherings and places of worship, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, transport hubs and camps for displaced persons.

“Attacks could be indiscriminate and could affect western interests as well as places visited by tourists. Besides Abuja, other major towns and cities remain particularly at risk, including Kano and Kaduna,” it stated.

The FCO noted that there was a high threat of kidnap throughout the country, adding that abductions could be motivated by criminality or terrorism, and could be carried out for financial or political gain. It stated:

“The security environment in the northeast has deteriorated since 2018 and there is a heightened risk of kidnap.

“There is also a high threat of criminal kidnap in the Niger Delta region and Kogi State. If you travel to areas to which the FCO advise against travel, you are particularly at risk and will need a high level of security.