Some few days to the remembrance anniversary of the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 on the twin tower of the World Trade Centre in the United States, the Department of State has slammed a restriction on its citizens from traveling to fourteen Nigerian states.
In a message captioned ‘Security Travel Restrictions and the Anniversary of the September 11 Attacks’ posted on its website on Friday, the US embassy in Nigeria said because of safety and security concerns, it was enforcing a restricted travel policy for U.S. Embassy personnel to the states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
It also advised U.S. citizens to be mindful of this and consider taking similar steps when planning travel.
The statement reads in part, “Spontaneous demonstrations are also likely to occur in these and possibly other areas within Nigeria in response to heightened tensions in the Middle East, as well as the lead up to September 11. Regardless of where demonstrations might occur, U.S. citizens should be aware that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can potentially turn confrontational and escalate into violence without advance warning. U.S. citizens should avoid areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.”
The statement added that “U.S. citizens should also remain vigilant around churches, mosques, other places of worship, and locations where large crowds may gather, such as hotels, markets, malls, and other areas frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers, particularly as the anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches.”
