BEVERLY HILLS, August 08, (THEWILL) – The UK government has advised its nationals against visiting some states in Nigeria that are highly affected by insecurity.
The travel advisory published on the official website of the UK Foreign Office marked Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe States in the North East area of Nigeria as places of high tensed insecurity, should be avoided by its nationals.
The UK also warned against visiting of riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States and also within 20km of the border with Niger in Zamfara State. It also warned that travelling to North West of Nigeria should only be for essential reasons.
The statement reads, “Furthermore, it advised against travelling to the following places except for essential reasons: The FCO advice against all but essential travel to: Bauchi State, Zamfara State, Kano State.
”Kaduna State within 20km of the state border with Kaduna and Zamfara states in Niger State, west of the Kaduna River.
Jigawa State, Katsina State and Kogi State within 20km of the border with Niger in Sokoto and Kebbi States non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers State and Abia State.
THEWILL gathered that the current insecurity in Nigeria has necessitated the temporal withdrawal of a small number of UK staff and dependents at the British High Commission in Abuja and the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos.
“Both locations will continue to carry out essential work including providing 24/7 consular assistance and support to British people in Nigeria,” the statement reads.
“Humanitarian hubs have been targeted during attacks in the north east, including Monguno, Borno State on 13 June 2020. There have also been significant attacks in Gombe, Kano, Kaduna, Jos and Bauchi States and in the Federal capital, Abuja. Further attacks are likely,” the office warned.
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“Anecdotal evidence suggests that the risk of kidnap increases after dark. The security environment in the northeast has deteriorated since 2018 and there is a heightened risk of kidnap. Kidnaps in the northeast have included humanitarian and private-sector workers.”
The UK Foreign Office also revealed that “Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) are continuing to actively 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.”
The government warned its nationals to “be vigilant at all times and keep others informed of your travel plans. If you’re working in Nigeria, you should follow your employer’s security advice, make sure your accommodation is secure and review your security measures regularly.”
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