The United Kingdom’s (UK) Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has raised alarm over the worsening security situation in Nigeria, issuing a fresh travel advisory that identifies 20 states as high-risk for British nationals.
In the advisory published on the UK government’s official website, on Sunday, November 9, the FCDO warned of escalating incidents of kidnapping, violent crime, terrorism, and intercommunal clashes across several regions of the country.
It urged British citizens residing in or visiting Nigeria to exercise extreme caution, strengthen their personal security measures, and maintain robust contingency plans.
According to the FCDO, six states, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina, and Zamfara, should be completely avoided due to the persistent threat posed by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), particularly around transport hubs, religious centres, and crowded public places.
The advisory also cautioned humanitarian workers, noting that they remain prime targets for insurgent attacks.
The UK government further advised against all but essential travel to Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, and Taraba states, as well as the outer areas of Abuja, citing a surge in violent criminal activity and heightened instability.
It added that ongoing military operations in the north-east have made movement, especially in cities like Maiduguri, extremely risky.
In the Niger Delta region, comprising Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states, the FCDO warned of frequent militant attacks on oil and gas infrastructure and recurring incidents of kidnapping.
The south-east was also described as volatile, with continued clashes between secessionist groups and security forces posing serious risks to foreigners.
Even the south-west, including Lagos, was flagged for concern due to rising rates of armed robbery, carjacking, and kidnapping, particularly at night.
While large-scale terrorist attacks are uncommon in the region, the FCDO recalled that ISWAP claimed responsibility for a series of incidents there in 2022.
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