UK Issues Travel Advisory Update For 12 of Nigeria’s States

The United Kingdom has issued an updated travel advisory against travel to twelve of Nigeria's states. This comes close on the heels of last month's terror alerts regarding the African nation.

In the update that was released on Monday by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the UK government toned down the earlier advisory, but still urged the citizens to check the travel advisory regularly.

"The FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to the Federal Capital Territory, including the city of Abuja, but risks remain, and further details about the continued threat from terrorism in this region has been added. The FCDO advice against travelling to other areas of Nigeria remains in place," read the advisory.

"The FCDO advises against all travel to Borno State, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, and the riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states," it states.

The UK was amongst a host of other countries that had warned their citizens against traveling to the violence-ravaged country. The others on the list were the US, Canada, Ireland, Australia, Germany and Bulgaria. A few of these countries have asked their citizens already in Nigeria, to consider immediately departing the country over an imminent terror alert, reported the Vanguard.

While some of the states were listed as absolute no-go zones, some others were considered fit for 'essential travel', considering the risk factors associated with it.

"The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Bauchi State, Kano Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto, Kogi, within 20km of the border with Niger in Kebbi State, Abia, non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states, Plateau, and Taraba states," the UK said.

The travel advisory is regularly updated by UK foreign ministry depending on the changing risk factors in various nations.

Recently, there have been a huge number of attacks by militants and bandits alike in the South East and Southern regions of Nigeria, including in the states of Jamfarah, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Anambra, Edo, Delta, and Ebonyi. On Monday, armed bandits stormed the Masu village in Northwestern Nigeria and killed 11 people. 80 others were kidnapped, according to a report by Reuters.