US Issues Fresh Travel Warning To Nigeria.

As a result of the continuous terrorists threats in Northern-Nigeria, the United States Department of State yesterday warned all the citizens of the country to avoid the risks of travelling to Nigeria.

Issuing a fresh travel warning in a statement obtained electronically by our correspondent, the Department of State specifically recommended that all US citizens should avoid all travel to Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states.

The statement attributed the fresh warning to the recent state of emergency proclamation for those three states by the Nigerian government, stressing that the security situation in the country remained fluid and unpredictable.

In the Travel Warning which according to the statement replaces the most recent Travel Warning for Nigeria, the Department of State strongly urged all US citizens living in Nigeria to consider their own personal security and as well keep personal safety in the forefront of their planning.

The statement reads: “The declaration of a state of emergency gives the government sweeping powers to search and arrest without warrants. On November 20, 2013, the national assembly approved the President of Nigeria’s request for a six-month extension of the state of emergency in   Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states. “The ability of the Mission to provide assistance to US citizens in those 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, 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. US citizens should be aware that extremists could expand their operations beyond northern Nigeria to other areas of the country.”

The US Mission also 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, beer parlours, restaurants, markets, shopping malls; and other areas frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

It also stated that security measures in Nigeria remained 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.