TheCable

The United States department of state has warned its citizens in and outside Nigeria to avoid travelling to Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe, the three states most ravaged by insurgency.

Citing insecurity in the region, it described the situation in the northeast Nigeria as “remaining fluid and unpredictable”.

Three south-southern states, though, were also added to the list of no-go zones.

“The US Department of State strongly urges US citizens in Nigeria to consider their own personal security and to keep personal safety in the forefront of their travel planning,” read a statement issued on Tuesday.

“The ability of the Mission to provide assistance to U.S. citizens in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states remains severely limited. The Department continues to recommend against all but essential travel to the following states due to the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks:

“Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.

“The Department also warns against travel in the Gulf of Guinea because of the threat of piracy. Based on safety and security risk assessments, the embassy maintains restrictions for travel by US officials to those states listed above; officials must receive advance clearance by the US Mission for any travel deemed as mission-essential.”

The statement further said there was a possibility of an outbreak of violence during the election, adding that the Nigerian armed forces were incapable of  guaranteeing the safety of US citizens.

“Security measures in Nigeria remain heightened due to threats posed by extremist groups, and US citizens may encounter police and military checkpoints, additional security, and possible road blocks throughout the country.

“The 2015 elections present a possibility of violence, particularly in the northern and southeastern parts of the country. US citizens are encouraged to exercise caution during the election process, particularly in and around polling locations in the weeks before and after the elections.

“US citizens should be aware that extremists could expand their operations beyond northern Nigeria to other areas of the country. Various curfews are intermittently in effect in several states in the North. Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been displaced as a result of violence in the north.

“Kidnappings of foreign nationals and attacks against Nigerian police forces in Lagos state and the Niger Delta region continued to affect personal security for those traveling in these areas. Criminals or militants have abducted foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, from off-shore and land-based oil facilities, residential compounds, airports, and public roadways.

“Local authorities and international corporations operating in Nigeria assert that the number of kidnapping incidents throughout Nigeria remains under-reported. 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 travelers. The Nigerian Navy has limited capacity to respond to criminal acts at sea.

“Law enforcement authorities usually respond slowly or not at all and provide little or no investigative support to victims. U.S. citizens, other foreign nationals, and Nigerians have experienced harassment and shakedowns at checkpoints and during encounters with Nigerian law enforcement officials.”