UK travel advisory Nigeria warns citizens to avoid 21 states due to insecurity, kidnappings, and violent crime

The UK travel advisory Nigeria has been updated by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), warning British citizens against visiting 21 states across the country amid escalating insecurity, kidnappings, and violent crime.

Also read: UK Cuts Post-Study Visa to 18 Months for Foreigners

The advisory, last updated on 21 October and confirmed as current by the FCDO on Sunday, said insecurity “is increasing across Nigeria”, with incidents of kidnapping, inter-communal clashes and banditry recorded in all regions.

The FCDO advised against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe states due to frequent terrorist activity and ongoing military operations that could trigger retaliatory attacks.

Only essential travel is advised to Bauchi State, where the risk of attacks from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa remains high.

“There is a high and increasing threat from Boko Haram or Islamic State West Africa, particularly around transport hubs, religious areas and large gatherings,” the statement said.

In the Northwest, the UK office warned of rampant banditry and abductions, advising citizens to avoid Katsina and Zamfara, while limiting travel to Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, and Sokoto to essential purposes.

The FCDO further cautioned against non-essential travel to Niger, Kogi, Plateau and Taraba states.

Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, was not exempt from concern, with the advisory citing “violent crime, often involving firearms,” spreading from the outskirts into wealthier central areas.

The office also warned that protests in Abuja “can turn violent”, urging British nationals to monitor developments closely and avoid large gatherings.

In the Southeast, the FCDO discouraged non-essential visits to Abia, Anambra and Imo due to activities of secessionist groups.
It also cautioned against travel to non-riverine parts of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states, noting periodic unrest and criminal incidents.

Even Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, came under warning, with the advisory highlighting “high levels of street crime, particularly on the mainland.”

The expanded advisory addressed several other risks, including financial scams and fraudulent “romance” schemes targeting foreign nationals.

It also urged caution over fertility treatments, citing a rise in so-called “miracle babies” involving staged fake births and illegal adoptions.

“If you bring a child who is not biologically related to you into the UK without following legal procedures, you could face prosecution,” it warned.

The FCDO further noted incidents of poisoning linked to methanol-contaminated alcoholic drinks, advising citizens to avoid unlicensed beverages as methanol cannot be detected by taste or smell.

Lastly, British nationals were cautioned about swimming off Nigeria’s coastline, where rip tides and undertows have caused multiple drownings.

Also read: UK Cuts Post-Study Visa to 18 Months for Foreigners

The FCDO said it would continue to monitor developments, stressing that “the security situation remains fluid and could deteriorate with little warning.”