The United States Of America has described the security situation in Nigeria to its citizens as “fluid and unpredictable’’. They put a travel alert on 16 states and warned Americans against travelling there. The states are Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Gombe and Jigawa states.
The USA appealed to its citizens to avoid all travels to these states if it is not necessary. The north eastern states included here has been under emergency rule after a presidential declaration and the rest are prone to kidnappings, robberies and other armed attacks. The statement from the USA state department reads; “Security measures in Nigeria remain heightened due to threats posed by extremist groups. “Boko Haram, an extremist group based in northeast Nigeria designated as a Foreign Terrorist organisation by the Department of State, has claimed responsibility for many attacks, mainly in northern Nigeria’’. "The Ansaru group, an offshoot of Boko Haram, has carried out several kidnappings, targeting foreigners in Nigeria". They also warned its citizens to be particularly vigilant around “government security facilities, places of worship and locations where large crowds may gather’’. For your reference, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Imo and Rivers states were in an earlier list issued in June, 2013 but they are not on the latest travel list.
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