By Aishat Ibrahim
The United Kingdom Government has warned its citizens against traveling to twelve violence-ridden states in Nigeria.
The warning was contained in a travel advisory publication by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The mentioned states are Borno, Yobe, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kastina, Delta, River, Cross River, Zamfara and Adamawa.
The FCDO in particular warned against traveling to States which are target of kidnapping such as Bauchi, Kano, Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto, Kogi within 20km of the border with Niger, in Kebbi and Abia States.
According to the advisory, “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.”
FCDO said that these states are specifically bedrocks of insecurity and foreigners has been the target of terrorists kidnapping.
The advisory stated, “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.”
The UK government also advised its citizens travelling to States in the South East and South South regions of Nigeria to be careful and stay updated on local news and information outlet as these states are also targets of terrorists attacks and killings.
“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 advisory added.
