By Akanimo Sampson
President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is spoiling to beef up security in some dangerous regions of Nigeria as the United States in its latest travel advisories has directed its nationals to avoid some 14 states in the country rife with terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
The Buhari administration said on Thursday said it is going to beef up security around the borders with neighbouring Chad following the death of President Idriss Deby.
Although US approved travel to other parts, it urged its citizens to “reconsider travel to Nigeria.” In an updated advisory, the US State Department added at least 116 countries this week to its “Level Four: Do Not Travel” advisory list.
United Kingdom, Canada, France, Israel, Mexico, Germany and others are on the list, citing a “very high level of COVID-19.”
Before Tuesday, the State Department listed 34 out of about 200 countries as “Do Not Travel.” The State Department now lists 150 countries at Level Four. Nigeria is categorised as Level 3.
Unlike countries categorised as Level 4, based on the advice of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nigeria has a good rating on COVID-19 prevalence.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 1 Travel Health Notice for Nigeria due to COVID-19, indicating a low level of COVID-19 in the country”, the Department said, and also listed areas the American visitor should avoid, while in Nigeria.
These are: Borno, Yobe, and northern Adamawa states due to terrorism and kidnapping, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Zamfara states due to kidnapping.
It also banned American citizens from going to Coastal areas of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers states (with the exception of Port Harcourt) due to crime, kidnapping, and maritime crime.
In a country summary on Nigeria, the Department wrote: “Violent crime – such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, hostage taking, banditry, and rape – is common throughout the country.
“Kidnappings for ransom occur frequently, often targeting dual national citizens who have returned to Nigeria for a visit, as well as US citizens with perceived wealth. Kidnapping gangs have also stopped victims on interstate roads.
“Terrorists continue plotting and carrying out attacks in Nigeria, especially in the Northeast. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting shopping centers, malls, markets, hotels, places of worship, restaurants, bars, schools, government installations, transportation hubs, and other places where crowds gather.
‘’Terrorists are known to work with local gangs to expand their reach. There is civil unrest and low-level armed militancy in parts of Southern Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta region. Armed criminality, including kidnapping and maritime crime, is also pervasive in this region.
“Violence can flare up between communities of farmers and herders in rural areas. There is frequent maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea. The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Nigeria due to security conditions.”
However, Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Bashir Magashi, a retired Army Major General who made the internal security plan public in Abuja, pointed out that the absence of Chad’s influence on the border may worsen Nigeria and other neighbouring countries’ security situation.
According to him, this explains why Nigeria will beef up security around its borders, particularly with the Republic of Chad following the ongoing unrest in the country, which may escalate insecurity, and also said the attacks on police formation in the South-East was an affront on Nigeria’s security architecture and warned that such would no longer be tolerated.
