UK Renews Travel Advice To Niger Delta

THE United Kingdom (UK) Government has again advised their citizens against all travel to the Niger Delta, Nigeria's main oil and gas region that has been a centre of low intensity war for months now.

The latest travel advice specifically mentioned Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States, including Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital that appears to be the most vulnerable. The UK authorities are also against any form of travel to riverine areas of Cross River State.

Our correspondent gathered from some top level British diplomats on Monday in Port Harcourt that this is because of the very high risk of kidnapping, armed robbery and other armed attacks in the states and areas mentioned.

However, in 17 separate incidents since January 2006, the diplomats say 33 British nationals (including one child) and over 180 foreign nationals have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta area and one Briton killed, pointing out that on July 8, 2007 a British national was one of the two foreign nationals abducted from a vessel in a riverine location in Cross River State.

''We advise that the security situation in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States makes them unsafe for British nationals. We therefore advise British nationals to leave. If you stay, you do so at your own risk and should take professional security advice. The level of consular assistance we can provide is limited'', the British government said.

Adding, they said, ''we advise against all but essential travel to Akwa Ibom State because of the high risk of kidnapping, armed robbery and other armed attacks. You should maintain a high level of vigilance at all times, observe the strictest security measures and not travel unnecessarily. If travelling by road you should use fully protected transport. Six Russian nationals were abducted from a compound in Akwa Ibom State on June 3, 2007''.

Continuing, they claimed that the high risk of kidnappings and other armed attacks in the Niger Delta applies also to ships and oil rigs at sea off the coast of the Delta. In 2007 there has been an increase in attacks offshore.

''There is also a risk of kidnapping in other States in south-east Nigeria. On 17 March 2007, two Chinese nationals were abducted at Nnewi, Anambra State. A British national was one of two foreign nationals abducted from a vessel in a riverine area of Cross River State on July 8'', they said.

While claiming that localised outbreaks of civil unrest can occur at short notice, they pointed out that the most common incidents for which British nationals required consular assistance in Nigeria in 2006 were attempts by scam artists to extract money. ''Violent crime is prevalent in the south of the country, including Lagos'', they said.

According to them, their nationals should be aware of the threat from terrorism in Nigeria, claiming a statement issued by Usama Bin Laden in February 2003 called for an uprising by Muslims in a number of countries including Nigeria. He allegedly suggested that “faithful Muslims” should rise up against the Nigerian Government. He also referred to “support for brothers” in Nigeria in December 2004.

ENDS

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