Nigeria: Foreign nationals released Jan. 20 /update 1

Event

The two American and two Canadian nationals who were kidnapped near Kafanchan (on Kwoi-Jere road, along the Kaduna-Abuja travel route in Kaduna state) on Tuesday, January 16, were released on Saturday, January 20, in the same area. The foreign nationals were unharmed and reportedly released in good health. As of January 22, details regarding the circumstances of their release had not been made public.

Context

No group has claimed responsibility for the abductions. Kidnap for ransom - both of high net worth Nigerians and of foreign nationals - is commonplace in the country.

Advice

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.