US warns citizens to avoid 18 Nigerian states completely
The United States of America has issued a fresh warning to citizens against travelling to many states in Nigeria.
According to the US, its citizens should reconsider travelling to Nigeria over the unavailability of healthcare services and insecurity.
It identified kidnapping, terrorism, armed gangs, among other crimes, as reasons to avoid Nigeria.
The US gave the travel advisory as part of its security review, which serves as a guide for travellers planning trips to Africa, with some countries flagged as high-risk zones.
Apart from Nigeria, the US also flagged 11 other African countries, including Somalia, Libya, Burkina Faso, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Burundi, Mauritania, Guinea-Bisau, Niger and Chad, in its global travel advisory warning.
The advisory categorised countries into four levels, with level four “do not travel” being the most severe and level three “reconsider travel” indicating serious risk.
The US, in a statement by its Mission in Nigeria, posted on its website, stated that all locations carry a significant security risk.
While the citizens may still travel to Nigeria, the government, however, designated 18 states as the most severe and advised its citizens to avoid those states completely.
The designated states to be avoided by US citizens include: Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and northern Adamawa states due to terrorism and kidnapping; Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states due to kidnapping; and Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states due to crime, kidnapping, and armed gangs.
“Reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed gangs, and inconsistent availability of health care services. Some places in Nigeria have an increased risk. Overall, all locations carry significant security risks.
“Violent crime is common in the country. This includes armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, hostage-taking, roadside banditry, and rape.
“Kidnappings for ransom happen often. They primarily target dual national citizens visiting Nigeria and U.S. citizens perceived as wealthy. Kidnapping gangs have also stopped victims on interstate roads,” the statement partly reads.
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