…the statement specifically advised citizens against travel to the riverine region.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – The iNews Times | The United Kingdom government has issued a strong travel advisory, warning its citizens and foreign staff to steer clear of many parts of Nigeria amid escalating insecurity, kidnappings, and violent crimes.
In the latest update published on the UK government’s official travel advisory website, GOV.UK, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) urged British nationals to exercise extreme caution, review their security arrangements, and maintain emergency evacuation plans while in Nigeria.
The statement specifically advised citizens against travel to the riverine regions of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States, citing persistent risks of kidnapping and violent attacks.
It also placed a full travel ban on Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina, and Zamfara States, highlighting the “increasing threat from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), particularly around transport hubs, religious centres, and large gatherings.”
According to the FCDO, “insecurity is increasing across Nigeria,” with cases of kidnapping, armed robbery, and intercommunal clashes recorded in almost all regions. The advisory warned that militant groups operating in the Niger Delta remain active and continue to attack oil and gas installations.
In the South-East, the UK warned that secessionist agitation and clashes with security forces have created volatile conditions. “Although foreign nationals are not normally targeted, there is a risk of being caught in an attack,” the advisory stated.
The UK government also expressed concern over rising violent crimes in the South-West, including Lagos, where cases of mugging, car-jacking, armed robbery, and kidnapping have become more frequent, especially in major cities and urban centres.
The advisory further discouraged 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, warning that “violent crime involving firearms has spread from the outskirts to central areas.”
British citizens and officials in Nigeria have now been directed to restrict movement to within Abuja’s metropolitan area, while citizens are urged to avoid protests and public gatherings, as demonstrations “can quickly turn violent.”
The FCDO painted a particularly grim picture of the situation in the North-East, noting that ongoing military operations and insurgent activities continue to pose a high risk. “Should the security situation in Maiduguri deteriorate, it could become extremely difficult for foreign nationals to leave the city,” it warned.
The UK’s latest advisory underscores mounting international concern over Nigeria’s security challenges, even as the federal government continues to pledge renewed efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes across the country.
