The United Kingdom has warned its citizens against travelling to several parts of Nigeria due to rising insecurity.
The latest advisory cited threats of kidnapping, terrorism, and violent crimes across the country.
The United Kingdom government has issued a new travel advisory cautioning its citizens against visiting several parts of Nigeria due to what it described as rising insecurity, kidnapping, terrorism, and violent crimes across the country.
The latest warning, released on Sunday, November 9, 2025, by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through its official website, stated that the security situation in Nigeria continues to worsen. It said incidents of violent crime, communal clashes, and abductions have become widespread in nearly all regions.
According to the advisory, British nationals currently in Nigeria have been urged to review their personal security plans, remain vigilant, and ensure they have emergency measures in place. The FCDO further highlighted that terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) remain active in parts of the country, particularly in the northeast.
The UK government specifically advised against all travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Katsina, and Zamfara states. It explained that these areas face a “high and increasing threat” of attacks, especially around transport hubs, religious centres, and large gatherings. Humanitarian workers and their facilities, according to the report, are also potential targets for criminal or terrorist activities.
In addition, the FCDO warned against all but essential travel to ten other states: Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, and Taraba. The advisory also included the outer suburbs of Abuja, saying insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory has worsened, with armed robbery and kidnapping incidents spreading from the outskirts into more central areas.
The statement revealed that British government staff in Nigeria have been told to limit their movement within Abuja’s metropolitan area. It also mentioned that protests in the capital sometimes become violent, urging travelers to monitor local media, avoid demonstrations, and follow the guidance of local authorities.
The advisory described the situation in the northeast as particularly worrying, with frequent military operations ongoing in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states and the constant threat of retaliatory attacks. It also cautioned that if conditions deteriorate further in Maiduguri, evacuation might be extremely difficult.
In the South-South and South-East, the UK warned against visiting riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states due to high risks of militant attacks, armed robbery, and kidnapping. It noted that militant groups in the Niger Delta have previously targeted oil and gas infrastructure.
Similarly, in the South-West, including Lagos, the FCDO noted that crimes such as carjacking, mugging, and kidnapping remain common, particularly in large cities.
The British government urged citizens to stay alert, avoid unnecessary movement, and seek updated travel guidance before entering any part of Nigeria listed as unsafe.
