US Declares 20 Nigerian States Unsafe

United States government has listed 20 of Nigeria's 36 states as
unsafe and asked its citizens living in the country to stay away from
them.

Among the 20, it cited Borno, Adamawa and Yobe as a complete no-go
area as "the ability of the US Mission to provide assistance to US
citizens" in those states remains severely limited.

Members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect recently renewed attackes in
Borno State, while Fulani herdsmen have scaled up killing of villagers
and farmers in Adamawa State.

The travel warning, published on Wednesday, replaced an earlier one
dated February 5, 2016.

In addition to the three frontline states, the Department of State
also "recommends against all but essential travel to the following
states due to the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed
attacks: Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna,
Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, and
Zamfara.

"The Department also warns against travel in the Gulf of Guinea,
because of the threat of piracy" the advisory published online added.

It added that based on safety and security risk assessments, the
embassy maintains restrictions for travel by U.S. officials to the
states listed above; officials must receive advance clearance by the
U.S. Mission for any travel to those states.

The statement particularly urged vigilance 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.

"Security measures in Nigeria remain 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.

"Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been displaced as a result of
violence in the north."

The State Department noted that kidnappings remained a security
concern throughout Nigeria, as criminal elements across the country
orchestrated kidnappings for ransom; Islamic extremists, operating
predominantly in the North, also have been known to conduct
kidnappings. 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.

"Separatist groups have staged demonstrations in Abia, Anambra,
Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, and Rivers states, some of which
have turned violent.

"Militant groups have destroyed oil production infrastructure in
Bayelsa and Delta states.

"U.S citizens are advised to avoid the areas of these states where
these incidents have occurred.

"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," it concluded.

-Tribune