UK Issues Fresh Travel Warning to Citizens, Lists High-Risk Nigerian States to Avoid

• The United Kingdom has issued a new travel advisory warning its citizens against visiting several parts of Nigeria due to rising insecurity, kidnappings, and violent crime.

The United Kingdom has issued a fresh warning to its citizens, advising them to avoid several parts of Nigeria as insecurity worsens across the country.

In its latest travel advisory, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) stated that kidnapping, violent crime, and intercommunal clashes continue to occur across all regions of Nigeria. The advisory, published on the UK government’s official website, urged British nationals to remain vigilant, review personal security measures, and have emergency evacuation plans in place.

According to the FCDO, British citizens are strongly advised against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina, and Zamfara states due to the high and increasing threat of terrorism from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The office warned that attacks could target transport hubs, religious areas, and large public gatherings.

The UK government also cautioned that humanitarian workers, supplies, and infrastructure could become targets for terrorists and criminal groups operating in these regions.

Furthermore, the FCDO advised against all but essential travel to Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, and Taraba states, as well as certain outer parts of Abuja, citing the spread of violent crime and kidnappings from the outskirts to central and affluent areas. It added that British officials in Nigeria are currently restricted to movements within Abuja’s metropolitan zone.

The advisory also raised concerns over occasional protests in Abuja that could turn violent, urging British nationals to monitor local media, avoid demonstrations, and follow security instructions from authorities.

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In the North-East, the FCDO noted that ongoing military operations in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe could trigger retaliatory attacks, warning that worsening security might make evacuation difficult for travellers in Maiduguri.

The travel warning also covered parts of the South-South and South-East, advising against travel to the riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states, where militant activities, armed robbery, and kidnapping remain prevalent.

In addition, the advisory highlighted frequent clashes between secessionist groups and security forces in the South-East, noting that while foreigners are rarely targeted, they risk being caught in crossfire during attacks.

For the South-West region, including Lagos, the FCDO described crimes such as mugging, kidnapping, and armed robbery as “common,” particularly in major cities. Although large-scale terrorist incidents are rare, the advisory recalled that the Islamic State West Africa Province had claimed responsibility for two attacks in 2022.

British citizens were urged to exercise extreme caution, especially when moving around Lagos at night, and to seek safety advice from hotels or employers before travelling.