The US Department of State has warned U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Nigeria, and recommended that they avoid all travel to Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states because the security situation in northeast Nigeria remains fluid and unpredictable.
In a Travel Warning update Monday, the Department of State strongly urged U.S. citizens in Nigeria to consider their own personal security and to keep personal safety in the forefront of their travel planning.
The State Department made it clear that the ability of the US Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria to provide assistance to U.S. citizens in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states remains “severely limited.”
The Department warned against all but essential travel to the states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara due to the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks.
The Department also warned against travel in the Gulf of Guinea because of the threat of piracy. Based on safety and security risk assessments, the US Embassy in Abuja maintains restrictions for travel by U.S. officials to these states. U.S. citizens have been advised to be aware that extremists could expand their operations beyond northern Nigeria to other areas of the country.
The U.S. Mission advised all U.S. citizens to be particularly vigilant around government security facilities; churches, mosques, and 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 travelers. 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.
Nigeria’s general elections are scheduled for February 14, and gubernatorial elections are scheduled for February 28. The elections present a possibility of violence, particularly in the northern and southeastern parts of the country, according to the State Department.