INSECURITY: UK WARNS CITIZENS AGAINST TRAVELING TO NIGERIA

Britain advised its citizens on Wednesday against travelling to several regions in northern Nigeria, after an increase in attacks blamed on Islamist militants and the abduction of several foreigners earlier this month, Reuters reports.

Gunmen killed a security guard and abducted a Briton, an Italian, a Greek and four Lebanese workers after storming the compound of Lebanese construction firm Setraco in Bauchi State on February 16.

It was the worst case of foreigners being kidnapped in the mostly northern part of Nigeria since an insurgency by Boko Haram intensified two years ago.

Britain upped its travel risk ratings on Wednesday, advising against any travel to Bauchi State and Okene in Kogi State where militants last month attacked Nigerian troops who were bound for Mali to counter an Islamist insurgency.

It also advised against ” all-but-essential travel” to Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa and Katsina States, a statement from the foreign office said.

Attacks by Islamist groups in northern Nigeria have become the biggest threat to stability in the country.

Western governments are concerned the militants may link up with groups elsewhere in the region, including al Qaeda’s North African wing AQIM, especially given the conflict in nearby Mali.

France sent troops to Mali last month to help oust Islamist rebels.

Islamist group Ansaru claimed responsibility for the Setraco raid in Bauchi and the Okene attack.

The Setraco raid was “based on the transgression and atrocities done to the religion of Allah by the European countries in many places such as Afghanistan and Mali,” said the group, which has kidnapped other foreigners in Nigeria in the past.

Source: PMNews