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The U.S. Department of State has issued updated security guidance for its citizens.
In a recent statement, the department strongly recommended that Americans reconsider their plans to travel to Nigeria, citing concerns related to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the presence of armed gangs.
According to the release, the department specifically discouraged travel to several regions within Nigeria:
- Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and northern Adamawa states were flagged as areas of high risk due to the prevalent threat of terrorism and kidnapping.
- Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states were singled out due to the elevated risk of kidnapping.
- Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states (excluding Port Harcourt) were marked as areas with concerns related to crime, kidnapping, and the presence of armed gangs.
Furthermore, the release highlighted that violent crimes, such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, hostage situations, roadside banditry, and sexual assault, were widespread throughout the entire country.
Despite these warnings, the U.S. Department of State acknowledged that some citizens might still choose to travel to Nigeria. For those who decide to go ahead with their plans, the following precautions were strongly recommended:
- Ensure that you carry proper identification, including a valid U.S. passport along with any necessary Nigerian visas.
- Particularly for Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and northern Adamawa states, it was emphasized that the security situation in these areas remains fluid and unpredictable due to ongoing terrorist activities, inter-communal violence, and the risk of kidnapping. Security operations to combat these threats may occur without prior notice.
