20 States US Warned Citizens Against Traveling To In Nigeria

The United States has cautioned its citizens to avoid all
travel to 20 states for security reasons, stating that the
security there remains fluid and unpredictable.
The Department of State, specifically warned Americans
against travel to Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states, noting
that it’s ability to provide assistance to US citizens in the
three states remains severely limited.
The Department of State in a travel warning on its website
on Wednesday, strongly urged US citizens in Nigeria to
consider their own personal security and to keep personal
safety in the forefront of their travel planning.
The Department recommended against all but essential
travel to 17 other states due to the risk of kidnappings,
robberies, and other armed attacks.
The states are, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo,
Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau,
Rivers, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
“Based on safety and security risk assessments, the
Embassy maintains restrictions for travel by US officials to
the states listed above; officials must receive advance
clearance by the US Mission for any travel to those
states,” it stated.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Donald Awunah, could
not be reached on Thursday for reaction to the security
alert. He had yet to respond to an SMS as of the time of
filing this report.
The Department further advised all US 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.
It explained that security measures in the country is
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.”
The mission pointed out that the Boko Haram group,
designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the
Department of State, had claimed responsibility for many
attacks in the country.
It also informed Americans that local government curfews
are intermittently in effect in several states in the North.