The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a new travel advisory cautioning British nationals about worsening insecurity across several regions of Nigeria, citing growing incidents of terrorism, violent crime, and kidnappings.
In the latest update published on GOV.UK, the FCDO warned that insecurity has intensified nationwide, with reports of kidnappings, violent attacks, and intercommunal clashes spreading across multiple states.
British citizens were urged to exercise extreme caution, strengthen personal security measures, and keep contingency plans in place.
The advisory strongly warns against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina, and Zamfara states due to what it described as a “high and escalating threat from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa.” It noted that potential targets include transport hubs, religious sites, and crowded public areas.
The UK government also advised that travel to Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, and Taraba states — as well as the outer suburbs of Abuja — be limited to essential purposes only.
According to the FCDO, violent crimes involving firearms have spread from the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory into central and upscale areas of Abuja. It further cautioned that public protests in the capital can occasionally turn violent, urging travelers to avoid demonstrations, monitor local media, and follow security guidance.
In light of these threats, British government staff in Nigeria have reportedly been instructed to restrict their movements within the broader Abuja metropolitan area.
