US declares Borno, Adamawa, Rivers, Edo unsafe for citizens

The United States Government has asked its citizens living in Nigeria to stay away from twenty of the country’s 36 states which it described as unsafe.

The US Government, in an advisory published online on Wednesday, cited Borno, Adamawa and Yobe as a complete no-go areas.

It further listed Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, and Zamfara as unsafe areas.

The statement particularly urged vigilance around government security facilities; churches, mosques, other places of worship; locations where large crowds may gather such as hotels, clubs, bars, restaurants, markets, shopping malls; and other areas frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

The condition was in line with the severely limited ability of the US Mission to provide assistance to US citizens in those states and the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks, noting that criminals or militants have abducted foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, from off-shore and land-based oil facilities, residential compounds, airports, and public roadways.

It noted that kidnappings remained a security concern throughout Nigeria, as criminal elements across the country orchestrated kidnappings for ransom.

“Security measures in Nigeria remain heightened due to threats posed by extremist groups, and U.S. citizens may encounter police and military checkpoints, additional security, and possible road blocks throughout the country.