Risks in Nigeria

This item appears on page 16 of the December 2010 issue.

The US Department of State continues to warn of the risks of travel to Nigeria. Violent crime remains a problem throughout the country, including crime by persons in uniform. Twenty-one foreign nationals have been kidnapped in Nigeria in 2010. 

Since March, five improvised explosive devices have been detonated in the Niger Delta region.

In September, over 150 members of the Boko Haram extremist religious sect escaped from prison in northeast Bauchi and Borno states, some of whom are believed to be participating in attacks in other parts of the country. On Oct. 1, two car bombs were detonated in downtown Abuja during Independence Day celebrations, killing 10.