The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom (UK) has revised its travel warning, alerting British citizens to heightened security threats in various regions of Nigeria stemming from escalating violent crime, terrorism, and kidnappings.
In its most recent advisory released on GOV.UK, the FCDO underscored that insecurity is rising across the country, with kidnappings, violent assaults, and communal conflicts reported in numerous states.British nationals are strongly advised to practice utmost caution, reassess personal safety protocols, and maintain emergency plans.
The advisory explicitly discourages all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina, and Zamfara states due to a “significant and intensifying risk from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa,” particularly around transportation hubs, places of worship, and densely populated areas.
The FCDO cautioned that terrorists and criminal organizations might also target humanitarian workers, vehicles, supplies, and infrastructures.
Moreover, the UK government suggests limiting travel to Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, and Taraba states, along with the outskirts of Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory, to essential journeys only.
The advisory mentioned a rise in violent crimes frequently involving firearms, which have extended from suburban locales into the central, affluent regions of the capital. The FCDO also observed that demonstrations in Abuja can sometimes turn aggressive, advising travelers to keep an eye on local news, steer clear of protests and large gatherings, and heed directives from law enforcement.
British government personnel in Nigeria have been directed to limit their movements within the greater Abuja metropolitan region for their safety.