Israel-Hamas War: US cautions its citizens to be careful in Nigeria, others

The United States of America has listed Nigeria as one of the countries its citizens should reconsider traveling to as fears mount over the possibility of US interests becoming targets as protests and discontent spread over the Israel-Hamas war.

Listing Nigeria under the third tier of caution alert (Reconsider to travel) the US State Department highlighted Adamawa, Bauchi, Kogi, Yobe, Borno, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Gombe, Kano and Katsina as possible hot zones.

According to a worldwide travel advisory from the State Department, US citizens travelling abroad were told to “exercise increased caution”.

Read also: Israel-Hamas Conflict: US, UK, Germany ask citizens to leave Lebanon

“Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution,” officials said in the “worldwide caution” alert.

Aside asking Americans to stay alert in locations frequented by tourists, the Department of State listed Niger, Libya, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso and Central Africa Republic as countries US citizens must not travel to.

The last time the department issued such a warning was in August 2022; following the counterterrorism strike in Afghanistan that killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

At that time, U.S. officials warned “supporters of al- Qa’ida, or its affiliated terrorist organizations, may seek to attack U.S. facilities, personnel, or citizens.”

In a separate development, the State Department has instructed its embassies and consulates around the world to conduct emergency security reviews amid ongoing protests sparked by the fighting.

²Secretary of State, Antony Blinken also instructed personnel to evaluate whether embassies should issue alerts to Americans in their respective countries about potential threats posed by the demonstrations, as many have already done.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now