The Nigeria Police have debunked the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) against travel to some states and border areas in Nigeria.
The FCO had advised against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe states as well as riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states in addition to travelling within 20km of the border with Niger in Zamfara state.
The also advised against all but essential travel to Bauchi, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina, Kogi states as well as within 20km of the border with Niger in Sokoto and Kebbi states, non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Abia states.
FCO warned that terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Nigeria, noting that most attacks occur in the North-east, particularly in Borno including central Maiduguri and along access routes connecting the city to other major towns and along the Niger border, as well as in Damasak, Yobe, including the eastern LGAs bordering Borno state both North and South of the Damaturu Road, and Adamawa states.
The office also advised that places where crowds gather, including political meetings, religious gatherings and places of worship, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, transport hubs and camps for displaced people should be avoided.
“Attacks could be indiscriminate and could affect western interests as well as places visited by tourists. Besides Abuja, other major towns and cities remain particularly at risk, including Kano and Kaduna,” the office said.
However, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Frank Mba, in a press statement late on Wednesday, said: “While the Nigeria Police acknowledge that Nigeria is not without some security challenges, just like other nations of the World, including the advanced democracies, we wish to restate that Nigeria remains one of the most beautiful places to live in the World. It is a safe country with its own peculiar socio-economic and security challenges.
“We, therefore, wish to reassure Nigerians and the International Community of their safety and the commitment of the Police and other security agencies to continue to provide effective security services to the nation.”
