The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a new travel advisory urging British nationals to avoid all non‑essential travel to six Nigerian states Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina and Zamfara due to a sharp rise in insecurity.
The warning cites escalating terrorism, violent crime and kidnappings, particularly by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have intensified attacks on transport routes, religious sites and public gatherings.
In addition to the full travel ban, the FCDO advises that only essential travel be undertaken to several other regions, including Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba and the outer suburbs of Abuja.
The advisory notes that armed criminal activity has spread from peripheral areas into more central parts of the capital, and that humanitarian workers, vehicles and facilities are increasingly targeted, raising the risk of kidnapping even at checkpoints and on major highways.British citizens already in Nigeria are urged to remain vigilant, review personal safety measures, and have emergency plans in place.
The warning reflects a broader deterioration in the security landscape across the country, driven by insurgent attacks, banditry and inter‑communal violence. Travelers are directed to consult the official (link unavailable) travel‑advice page and consider registering with the UK’s “Stay Safe” service before departure.
