US Declares 16 States Unsafe In Nigeria.

The United States has revised its travel alert on
Nigeria, warning its citizens against travelling to 16
states in the country.
The latest alert, includes the three north eastern
states that have been under emergency rule after a
presidential declaration on May 14, 2013.
Released on January 8 by the State Department, the
US appealed to its citizens to avoid all, but essential
travels to Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta,
Gombe and Jigawa states.
The other states on the list, which the alert said are
prone to kidnappings, robberies and other armed
attacks are Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger,
Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
Abia, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Imo and Rivers states, which
were in an earlier list issued in June, 2013 are not on
the latest travel list.
The world power described the security situation in
Nigeria as "fluid and unpredictable,'' and also warned
against travel to the Gulf of Guinea because of the
threat of piracy.
The country urged its citizens to be particularly
vigilant around "government security facilities,
places of worship and locations where large crowds
may gather''.
"Security measures in Nigeria remain heightened
due to threats posed by extremist groups.
"Boko Haram, an extremist group based in northeast
Nigeria designated as a Foreign Terrorist
organisation by the Department of State, has claimed
responsibility for many attacks, mainly in northern
Nigeria,'' the statement read.
According to the State Department, the Ansaru
group, an offshoot of Boko Haram, has carried out
several kidnappings, targeting foreigners in Nigeria.
It noted that the group also claimed responsibility of
other violent acts in the past years.

culled from SDK