Nigeria: Gunmen kill ten at Port Harcourt market Oct. 9

Event

Unidentified gunmen attacked a food market in the Mgbosimiri district of Port Harcourt on Monday, October 9. At least ten people - mostly women working at the market - were killed and several others were injured. The motive for the attack remains unclear; an investigation is ongoing.

Context

Rivers state and its capital Port Harcourt suffer from high rates of violence and violent crime, including clashes between rival armed gangs and kidnapping for ransom.

Political violence has also been a major concern in the state, especially due to conflicts between Biafra separatists and the central Nigerian government. On September 15, suspected separatist militants attacked the Asaba market in neighboring Delta state, part of a series of escalating conflicts between the army and the separatists.

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.