The Department said the warning was in view of Nigeria’s scheduled general elections of April 2011, which end with the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections on April 26.
“During the electoral campaign, several acts of violence have occurred in various locations in the country, resulting in scores of deaths and injuries,” it said.
The U.S State Department urged its citizens to exercise caution and avoid political rallies and demonstrations, saying such events sometimes become violent and unpredictable.
The document also warned U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Nigeria and recommended that its nationals should avoid all but essential travel to certain areas.
These areas include the Niger-Delta states of Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Edo, Delta, and Rivers, as well as the South-Eastern states of Abia and Imo.
It also listed the city of Jos in Plateau State, Bauchi and Borno states in the North-East, and the Gulf of Guinea as other areas to avoid.
The U.S State Department notice said kidnapping, robbery and other armed attacks posed a great risk for travel in these areas.
“Violent crime committed by individuals and gangs, as well as by persons wearing police and military uniforms, remains a problem throughout the country,” the travel warning said.
Travel warnings are issued to make U.S citizen know the risks of travelling to particular places and to strongly consider not going to such places at all. The State Department travel warnings usually remain in place until the situation changes, and some have been in effect for years.(NAN)
No comments:
Post a Comment