The
United States has issued fresh travel alert on Nigeria, warning its
citizens not to travel to North and nine other states in South.
The US predicated the alert on the
emergency rule in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states, saying extremists
could expand their operations beyond the three states to other parts of
the country.
President Goodluck Jonathan had on May 14,
declared emergency rule in the three states to restore order following
the violence orchestrated by members of Boko Haram.
The travel warning came just as the US State Department placed $7m bounty on the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau.
It warned that the latest alert
superseded earlier one saying, “It replaces the travel warning for
Nigeria dated December 21, 2012.’’
The advice read, “The Department of
State warns US citizens of the risks of travel to Nigeria and recommends
that they avoid all travel to Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states because
of the proclamation on May 14, 2013, by the government of Nigeria.
“Based on safety and security risk
assessments, the Embassy maintains restrictions for travel by US
officials to all northern Nigerian states (in addition to those 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 the
country’s middle and southern states.”
The alert listed other states as Abia,
Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna,
Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, and Zamfara citing
kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks for the travel alert.
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