The US Department of State has issued a fresh warning to its citizens on the risk of travelling to Nigeria.
The Obama-led administration particularly warned citizens to avoid Niger Delta states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Rivers; the southeastern states of Abia and Imo; the city of Jos in Plateau State; Bauchi and Borno states in the northeast; as well as the Gulf of Guinea because of the risk of kidnapping, robbery and other armed attacks.?
A statement obtained by our correspondent noted that violent crimes remain a problem in the country.?
The statement reads in part, “According to the government of Nigeria, the December 31,2011 declaration of a state of emergency was in response to recent activities of extremist groups.? The state ofemergency gives the government sweeping powers to search and arrest without warrants.
“On January 9, residents of Nigeria participated in a national strike in protest of the government’s elimination of a gasoline subsidy, causing the closure of businesses throughout the country.? Several large protests took place across Nigeria and some clashes with security forces resulted in deaths.”
The statement also said that travel by foreigners to areas considered by the Nigerian government to be conflict-prone without prior consultation and coordination with local security authorities was not recommended, stressing that the Nigerian government may view such travel as inappropriate and potentially illegal, and may therefore detain violators.?
Also, President Barrack Obama’s spokesperson, Ms Victoria Nuland, while briefing journalists yesterday, maintained that the view of the United States government over the protest against the sudden removal of oil subsidy had not changed in terms of the right of the people to protest peacefully.
Meanwhile, Nigerians in Canada have vowed to defy the bitter Canadian winter and join millions of their compatriots at home and abroad in the Occupy Nigeria Movement to protest the sudden removal of oil subsidy by the Jonathan-led administration.
The protests are billed to take place in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, as well as Toronto, the country’s largest city and economic hub.
The Occupy Nigeria Toronto protest starts today at 2pm at Dundas Square (Dunda/Younge), Downtown Toronto.