U.S. advises against travel to Nigeria for “unpredictable” security situation

Washington, Feb 3 (EFE).Washington, Feb 3 (EFE). —  The U.S. State Department has advised U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to parts of Nigeria because security is “unpredictable” owing to the presence of the jihadist Boko Haram group, and warned of “possible spells of violence” before the presidential elections on Feb. 14.

“The 2015 elections again present a possibility of violence, particularly in the northern and southeastern parts of the country,” the U.S. government said in a statement.

It also highlighted the rise in the number of attacks carried out by Boko Haram in 2014 against markets, churches, schools and government buildings, mainly in the north, but have also spread to the capital, Abuja.

“Boko Haram is known to descend on whole towns, robbing banks and businesses, attacking police and military installations, and setting fire to private homes,” said the statement.

“Kidnappings remain a security concern throughout the country,” especially of foreign nationals in the Gulf of Guinea and the Niger Delta, where the Nigerian authorities have “limited capacity to respond to criminal acts at sea.”

Boko Haram jihadists have intensified their campaign of terror in the northeast of the country ahead of the Nigerian presidential elections.

The last attack occurred Monday when an explosion caused at least two deaths in the parking lot of a stadium in the northeastern town of Gombe, shortly after Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan left after participating in an election rally.

However, coordinated efforts in Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad have ensured that the regional coalition is going on the offensive against the Islamist group which is now forced to fight on several fronts at the same time in the northeast.