UK Warns Citizens to Avoid 19 States in Nigeria
The United Kingdom has advised its citizens residing or visiting Nigeria against travelling to 19 states during the election period.
In its travel advice to its citizens, the British Government warned them against visiting the states because they are prone to violence.
The states are Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Niger and Zamfara.
Others are Bauchi, Kano, Abia, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina, Kogi, Sokoto and Kebbi.
The statement added, “In the run-up to the elections, protests in Abuja and other Nigerian cities including Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Rivers are becoming increasingly frequent.
“Public gatherings and demonstrations may take place at short notice and have the potential to turn violent.
You should avoid rallies, public gatherings and demonstrations, and monitor the local media.”
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It added, “The presidential election could lead to the disruption of travel as a result of potential curfews or roadblocks over the weekend of 16 and 17 February. Travel restrictions could also affect passengers arriving or departing from Lagos and Abuja international airports.”
The UK also predicted the possibilities of terror attacks and kidnapping, which it said could be motivated by criminality or terrorism.
The statement said, “There’s a high threat of kidnap throughout Nigeria: Kidnaps can be motivated by criminality or terrorism and could be carried out for financial or political gain.
“Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Nigeria. Most attacks occur in the North-East, particularly in Borno (including central Maiduguri and along access routes connecting the city to other major towns), Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe states. There have also been significant attacks in Kano, Kaduna, Jos and Bauchi states and in the Federal Capital, Abuja.”
It further advised UK citizens to avoid places where crowds gather, including religious gatherings and places of worship, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, transport hubs and camps for displaced people.
It added that attacks could be indiscriminate and could affect western interests, as well as places visited by tourists.
