London—The United Kingdom (UK) has advised its citizens against travelling to Bayelsa and other states in Nigeria over the state of insecurity in the country.
According to a report by Dailypost.ng, the warning was given in a travel advisory published by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The British government warned citizens traveling to Bayelsa, Borno, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Zamfara, and Adamawa State to be careful as there is a high threat of kidnap and violent crimes in these states.
Highlighting the level of insecurity in the country, they also warned against attacks and killings in the South-East region.
The advisory reads in part:
“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 ware of the risk of terrorist kidnapping.
“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.”
