US Declares 16 States In Nigeria Unsafe

The United States has revised its travel alert on Nigeria, warning its citizens against travelling to 16 states in the country.

The unsafe states, includes three north eastern states that have been under emergency rule after a presidential declaration on May 14, 2013. Released on January 8 by the State Department, the US appealed to its citizens to avoid all, but essential travels to Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Gombe and Jigawa states.

The other unsafe states mentioned by the US which many dangerous activities like; kidnappings, robberies and other armed attacks are Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara,Abia, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Imo and Rivers states, which were in an earlier list issued in June, 2013 are not on the latest travel list.

The U.S security described the situation in Nigeria as “fluid and unpredictable,’’ and also warned against travel to the Gulf of Guinea because of the threat of piracy.

The country urged its citizens to be particularly vigilant around “government security facilities, places of worship and locations where large crowds may gather’’.

“Security measures in Nigeria remain heightened due to threats posed by extremist groups.

“Boko Haram, an extremist group based in northeast Nigeria designated as a Foreign Terrorist organisation by the Department of State, has claimed responsibility for many attacks, mainly in northern Nigeria,’’ the statement read.

According to the State Department, the Ansaru group, an offshoot of Boko Haram, has carried out several kidnappings, targeting foreigners in Nigeria. It noted that the group also claimed responsibility of other violent acts in the past years.