*** A summary of the Australian’s statement is included at the bottom of this report. The original US Wardens Message can be found in the News & Security Section.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade quoted �a warden message� issued by the United States Consulate in Lagos on Monday as �advising that it had received credible information of impending threats to attack/or take hostages� from some areas in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.
It listed the areas as: Intels camp, Kilometre 16, Aba Road; Orlando Courts, behind Hotel Presidential; Prodeco Camp, Onne; Wilbros Site II, Runuelimeli; Daewoo, Bonny Island; all in Rivers State as well as Eket in Akwa Ibom State.
The Australian statement, posted on the website of the department, is a review of the travel warnings on Nigeria released on Tuesday. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the equivalent of Nigeria�s Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Australia, in the travel advice, warned its citizens against travelling to Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers and Anambra states �because of the risk of violent protests against foreign oil companies located in the areas and an expected increase in localised civil unrest and violence.�
The statement also advised against travelling to the Bakassi peninsula because of the fragile situation there, following Nigeria�s pullout and Cameroun�s take over of the area. This followed the International Court of Justice�s ruling, which ceded the peninsula to Cameroun.
It said, �Security has been increased at airports in the south of the country (Nigeria) due to threats to oil and gas industry related flights. This includes flights operating between Owerri, Warri and Lagos.
�Recent credible reporting indicates a potential terrorist threat against the Nigerian Aero Contractors airline.�
But the United States Embassy in Nigeria, has denied that the embassy issued any �warden message� as quoted by the Australian department.
�Our consulate in Lagos did not issue any such statement. If anybody quoted any statement like that, he must have quoted wrongly,� Mr. Femi Omowunmi, the Information Specialist at the US Embassy said on the telephone on Tuesday.
An ethnic Ijaw group, Jomo Gbomo, had said in an email statement sent to the AFP on Monday that the Italian would soon be released.
The group said, �We have today directed the immediate and unconditional release of the Italian worker contracted to Saipem, who was abducted on Thursday, August 24, 2006.
�This release will be effected any moment from now.�
***Australian Travel Summary:
We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Nigeria because of the risk of terrorist attack, civil unrest and the high level of serious crime.
We strongly advise you not to travel to the riverine area in Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers and Anambra States in south-eastern Nigeria because of the risk of violent protests against foreign oil companies located in the area and an expected increase in localised civil unrest and violence.
In the Warri area of Delta State the conflict between the Nigerian military and Ijaw militant elements continues to escalate. Militants have significantly increased their kidnappings of expatriate oil workers and foreign businessmen in the area encompassing the cities of Port Harcourt, Warri and Owerri.
On 28 August 2006 the US Consulate in Lagos issued a warden message advising that it had received credible information of impending threats to attack and/or take hostages from the following areas: Intels camp, Kilometer 16, Aba Road; Orlando Courts behind Hotel Presidential; Prodeco Camp, Onne; Wilbros Site II, Rumuelimeli; Daewoo, Bonny Island, Rivers State; Eket, Akwa Ibom State.
Militants have also warned some foreign missions to advise their citizens to leave the Niger River Delta or face indiscriminate attack.
Security has been increased at airports in the south of the country due to threats to oil and gas industry related flights. This includes flights operating between Owerri, Warri and Lagos. Recent credible reporting indicates a potential terrorist threat against the Nigerian Aero Contractors airline.
We also advise you not to travel to the Bakassi Peninsula because of possible violence following Nigeria’s recent hand-over of the northern part of the Peninsula to Cameroon. If you are already in these areas and are concerned for your safety, you should consider departing.
We also advise you to reconsider your need to travel to the central (Taraba, Plateau, Adamawa and Benue States) and northern (Bauchi, Borno, Katsina, Sokoto and Kano States) regions of Nigeria because of the risk of serious inter-communal violence and unrest.
Large, sometimes violent demonstrations resulting in significant loss of life have occurred in Nigeria. You should avoid large public gatherings and demonstrations as they may become violent.
Given the unpredictable security situation in some parts of Nigeria, we strongly recommend that you register your travel and contact details with us, so we can contact you in an emergency.
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