Easter: UK urges citizens in Nigeria to be vigilant

The United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has urged its citizens resident in Nigeria or planning to visit the country to be more vigilant during the Easter period.

The travel advisory provided updated list of possible places that could be targeted by terrorist attacks, warning against all travel to Northeast Nigeria, the hot bed of Boko Haram insurgency.

It also warned against visit to coastal areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, within 20km of the border with Niger in Zamfara State.

“The FCO advise against all but essential travel to Bauchi, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina, Kogi, within 20km of the border with Niger in Sokoto and Kebbi States, Jos City in Plateau State, Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State, Non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers State, Abia State.”

“There is a continuing high threat from terrorism. Most attacks occur in the Northeast, particularly in Borno (including central Maiduguri and along access routes into the city), Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe States.

“There have also been significant attacks in Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Bauchi, Abuja and Gombe. Further attacks could occur anywhere.

“Major towns and cities remain particularly at risk, including Maiduguri, Kano, Kaduna, and Abuja as the federal capital,” it said.

The United Kingdom advised its citizens to avoid public places where crowds gather, including religious gatherings and insecure public spaces like places of worship, markets, transport hubs and camps for displaced people.