Canada warns citizens against travel to Nigeria over terrorism, kidnappings

Canadian authorities have warned citizens against non-essential travel to Nigeria, warning travellers that their “safety and security could be at risk.”

Canada’s travel advisory, updated on Monday, cited terrorism, kidnappings, and other risk prevalence.

“Avoid non-essential travel to Nigeria, including in Abuja, due to the unpredictable security situation throughout the country and the significant risk of terrorism, crime, inter-communal clashes, armed attacks, and kidnappings,” the advisory reads.

Expatiating on the warning, it said, “You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors.

“If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.”

However, “advisory excludes the cities of Calabar and Lagos, where you should exercise a high degree of caution.”

The advisory noted “there is a threat of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping” in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Yobe.

This comes amid widespread abductions in Nigeria in recent weeks. In the past week, over 400 people have been abducted in a series of coordinated attacks by bandits.