Nigeria: Gunmen abduct zoo director in Edo state Sep. 24

Event

Government officials confirmed that unidentified gunmen attacked the Ogba Zoo and Nature Park in Benin, Edo state, on Sunday, September 24. According to the Minister of Information and Culture, three police officers who were part of a security detachment for the zoo were killed in the attack. Officials also confirmed that the chief executive of the zoo was also kidnapped. Additional police officers have been deployed into the area and a search operation for the director is ongoing.

Context

The Federal Government has condemned the attack and said that the incident represents a significant blow to recent efforts to promote tourism. Around 200 guests were at the park during the incident. According to the Minister of Information and Culture, it is one of the country’s top tourist destinations.

Edo state is located within the Niger Delta region. A significant number of militant groups are active in the Delta region; however, they frequently target oil and gas facilities. It is unclear if the attack is related to recent threats by coalition of Niger Delta Agitators (CNDA), who called for all northerners and ethnic Yorubas living in the Niger Delta region to leave the region by October 1.

Advice

Individuals present in Edo state are advised to remain vigilant and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.

On a separate note, the security environment in Nigeria is complex and is particularly concerning in the northeast and extreme south of the country due to the presence of armed groups, high crime rates, and the risk of kidnapping. Some Western governments consequently advise against travel to certain areas of the northeast (e.g. states of Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, and Jigawa as well as parts of Kano and Adamawa states) and the southern Niger Delta region (e.g. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas.