UK Warns Citizens Against Travel To Parts Of Nigeria Over Rising Insecurity

The United Kingdom has issued a fresh travel advisory warning its citizens against visiting several parts of Nigeria, citing rising insecurity, terrorism, kidnappings, and violent crimes across the country.

The latest update, published on the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) website and sighted on Sunday, stated that “insecurity is increasing across Nigeria,” with incidents of “kidnapping, violent crime, and intercommunal violence” recorded in all regions.

The advisory urged British nationals currently in Nigeria to exercise extreme caution, review personal security measures, and have contingency plans in place.

Areas To Avoid

The FCDO advised against all travel to the following states:

• Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina, and Zamfara,
  citing a “high and increasing threat” from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), especially around transport hubs, religious centres, and large gatherings.

It also warned that humanitarian workers, vehicles, and facilities could be targeted by terrorist and criminal groups.

In addition, the UK government advised against 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 within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to the FCDO, “violent crime, often involving firearms, has increased and spread from the outer suburbs to more central, wealthier areas of the city.”

As a result, British government staff in Nigeria have been instructed to limit their movements to the Abuja metropolitan area.

Protests And Regional Risks

The advisory also noted that protests in Abuja can quickly turn violent, urging British nationals to “monitor local media, avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, and follow instructions from security forces.”

In the North-East, the UK described the situation as particularly volatile, with ongoing military operations in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states and the risk of retaliatory attacks.
UK citizens in Maiduguri were warned that if security worsens, “it could be extremely difficult to leave the city.”

The FCDO also advised against all travel to the riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states, citing the presence of militant groups and a “high risk of armed robbery, criminality, and kidnapping.”

The South-East was described as tense due to activities of secessionist groups, with the advisory noting that “attacks and violent clashes often occur with the military and other security forces.”
While foreign nationals are not usually targeted, the UK warned that travellers “could be caught in an attack.”

In the South-West, including Lagos, the UK cautioned that violent crimes such as mugging, kidnapping, car-jacking, and armed robbery remain common, particularly in urban centres.