Nigeria: Passenger bus attacked near Port Harcourt September 7

Event

A group of unidentified gunmen reportedly ambushed a bus and kidnapped 19 people in Rivers state on Thursday, September 7. The bus was traveling from Port Harcourt to Owerri when the incident occurred. Police officials have confirmed that 12 of the hostages have been rescued, and security forces are searching for the kidnappers and remaining hostages.

Context

Kidnapping is a longstanding concern in Nigeria. Both foreigners and locals face a high threat of abduction throughout the country, particularly from Niger Delta rebel groups in the south. Expatriates face an especially high risk of kidnapping due to their perceived wealth compared to the local population.

Kidnappings are recurrent near Port Harcourt; this is the fourth such incident in recent weeks. On August 28, gunmen attacked a bus and abducted 16 people in the area.

Advice

The security environment in Nigeria is complex and particularly poor 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.​​