The Australian government has warned its citizens to avoid traveling to Nigeria due to insecurity challenge facing the country.

In a statement by Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on Tuesday, cited a volatile security environment marked by terrorism, kidnapping and civil unrest as reasons for the advice.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the caution is coming, amid troubling data from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, which reported 2,235,954 abductions between May 2023 and April 2024.

The advisory specifically flagged 21 states, including Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna, Rivers, Zamfara, and Imo, as high-risk areas for terrorism, violent crime, and civil unrest.

The statement reads: “There’s a high risk of terrorist attacks across Nigeria by various militant groups. Attacks could be indiscriminate or may target foreign interests.

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“Potential targets include places where crowds gather, such as hotels, bars, restaurants, political meetings, government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, shopping malls, sporting events, transport hubs and networks, law enforcement facilities, international organisations and camps for displaced people.

“Reconsider your need to travel to Nigeria overall, including the capital Abuja.

“Do not travel to Adamawa, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross Rivers, Delta, Federal Capital Territory (excluding Abuja), Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara states.”