UK Government Raises Alarm Over Rising Insecurity in Nigeria, Flags 20 States as High-Risk for Travel

The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued an updated travel advisory warning its citizens of escalating insecurity across Nigeria. The advisory, published on GOV.UK and obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday, highlights rising incidents of kidn +pping, v+olent crime, terrorism, and intercommunal clashes nationwide.

British nationals in Nigeria have been urged to exercise “extreme caution,” review their safety measures, and maintain contingency plans. The FCDO advised against all travel to six northern states Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina, and Zamfara due to the growing thr+at from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa, particularly around transport hubs, religious sites, and public gatherings. Humanitarian workers were also warned of being potential targets.

The advisory further recommends avoiding 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, citing a rise in violent crime. In the North-East, ongoing military operations in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe pose additional risks, with possible retaliatory attacks making movement in cities like Maiduguri extremely dang+rous.

Travel to the Niger Delta states Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River is discouraged due to militant attacks on oil and gas infrastructure and frequent kidnappings. The South-East also remains volatile, with clashes between secessionist groups and security forces creating potential dangers for foreigners.

In the South-West, including Lagos, violent crimes such as armed r+bbery, car-jacking, and kidn+ppings are increasingly common, especially in major cities and during nighttime. While large-scale terr+rist att@cks remain rare in the region, the FCDO noted that Islamic State West Africa has previously claimed att@cks in 2022.

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