The Australian government has strongly advised its citizens to reconsider traveling to Nigeria due to the country’s unstable security situation.
A statement from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on Tuesday highlighted the risks posed by terrorism, kidnapping, and the potential for civil unrest.
The advisory pointed out the significant threat of terrorist attacks from various militant groups, with the possibility of indiscriminate violence or attacks targeting foreign interests.
Areas of concern include places with large gatherings, such as hotels, restaurants, bars, political meetings, government buildings, schools, markets, shopping malls, transport hubs, and camps for displaced people.
The Australian government specifically advised against traveling to several Nigerian states, including Adamawa, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross Rivers, Delta, Federal Capital Territory (excluding Abuja), Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.
This warning follows recent statistics from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, which reported 2,235,954 abductions between May 2023 and April 2024. During this period, ransom payments amounted to an estimated N2.2 trillion, with the highest ransom payments occurring in the North-West region.
