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US warns citizens to reconsider visiting Nigeria, cites insecurity, poor healthcare, others - ICIR
THE United States (US) government has warned its citizens against visiting Nigeria over the increasing rates of kidnapping, terrorism, armed gangs, and poor healthcare, among others.
The US disclosed this in a fresh travel advisory to its citizens.
The ICIR reports that the warning is coming from the US for the second time in one month.
It issued the advisory as part of its security review to help travellers assess risks when visiting Africa, highlighting certain countries as high-risk areas.
The advisory highlights 12 high-risk African countries, namely Nigeria, Somalia, Libya, Burkina Faso, South Sudan, DRC, Uganda, Burundi, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, and Chad.
The US ranks countries into four risk levels, with Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”) being the highest risk and Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”) indicating serious risk.
In a statement by the US Mission in Nigeria, posted on its website, the US cautioned its citizens to reconsider any planned trip to Nigeria, stating that all locations carry a “significant security risk.”
The US advised its citizens to completely avoid 18 states in Nigeria due to high risk, while travel to other states should be made with caution.
The US advised its citizens to avoid specific Nigerian states due to various security concerns, including terrorism, kidnapping, and crime, in states such as Borno, Yobe, Kogi, Adamawa, Bauchi Gombe, Kaduna, and others.
Speaking about insecurity in Nigeria, the US said, “Violent crime is common in the country. This includes armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, hostage-taking, roadside banditry, and rape.
