US places danger alerts on 20 Nigerian states

The United States of America has banned its citizens from visiting 20 Nigerian states because of insecurity.

The states which are now no-go areas to American citizens are Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.

It recommended only essential travel to the states.

According to the new travel warning, published on Wednesday to replace an earlier one dated February 5, 2016, the Department of State said it is placing alerts on these places because of “risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks”.

The statement read: “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.

“Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been displaced as a result of violence in the north. “Separatist groups have staged demonstrations in Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, and Rivers states, some of which have turned violent.

“Militant groups have destroyed oil production infrastructure in Bayelsa and Delta states.

“U.S citizens are advised to avoid the areas of these states where these incidents have occurred.

“Attacks by pirates off the coast of Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea have increased substantially in recent years.

“Armed gangs have boarded both commercial and private vessels to rob travellers.

“The Nigerian Navy has limited capacity to respond to criminal acts at sea.”

“The Department also warns against travel in the Gulf of Guinea, because of the threat of piracy”, the advisory published online added.