The Canadian government has warned its citizens not to travel to virtually all parts of Nigeria, due to worsening security challenges bedeviling Africa’s most populous country.
In a statement on its website, Canada said in the cautionary message titled “Nigeria Travel Advice,” that the reasons to avoid these areas include prevalence of terrorism, armed attacks, kidnapping, crime among other depravities as reasons Canadians should shun Nigeria as a tourism destination.
While it listed Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara and Yobe states for hotbeds of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, Lagos, Abuja and Calabar, the capital of Cross River were mentioned for crimes.
The statement partly reads: “Avoid non-essential travel to Nigeria due to the unpredictable security situation throughout the country and the significant risk of terrorism, crime, inter-communal clashes, armed attacks and kidnappings.
“Avoid all travel to the following regions due to the risk of terrorism, armed attacks, kidnapping, intercommunal and sectarian violence: the north-western states of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara, the North-central State of Plateau, the North-eastern States of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa and Yobe, the Niger Delta states of Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo and Rivers (with the exception of Rivers’ capital city, Port Harcourt, where we advise against non-essential travel).
“Exercise a high degree of caution in the cities of Abuja, Calabar and Lagos due to the incidence of crime.
“There is a threat of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in the following Northwestern and Northeastern states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara and Yobe.
“Bandit groups are increasingly active in the Northwest, including in Kaduna state. Violent attacks involving gunfire and explosives, as well as kidnappings, are frequent. They have targeted: motorists, transportation hubs and networks and local communities.”