The United States, United Kingdom, and Canada have sent out security warnings to it’s citizens in Nigeria, warning of potential violence during the planned nationwide protests.
The development comes closely following a planned nationwide protest against hunger and hardship scheduled to start from August 1, 2024.
In separate travel warnings, the three nations advised their citizens to stay away from areas where conflicts between security operatives and protesters could happen.
In its warning, the US Mission in Abuja urged Americans to stay away from the rallies, beckoning on them to stay away from crowds and demonstrations and stay updated via local media.
The alert featured the potential for roadblocks, checkpoints, traffic congestion, and physical confrontations, stating, “According to media reports, nationwide protests may occur in Nigeria between July 29th and August 5th, 2024. Based on past occurrences, protests may involve roadblocks, checkpoints, traffic congestion, and physical confrontations”.
Also, the UK High Commission cautioned that protests could happen between July 29 and August 10 in major cities like Abuja and Lagos. British nationals were encouraged to exercise caution, stay away from large crowds, and stay informed through media reports, taking note of the fact that past protests have turned brutal with little warning.
The advisory read, “Political rallies, protests, and violent demonstrations can take place with little notice. Get advice on areas to avoid. Take care if you’re visiting crowded public places or attending events which attract large crowds. If you see a threatening or intimidating situation, do not try to make your way through it. Turn around and move to safety”.
The Canadian government likewise drew the attention of its citizens about the demonstrations, warning them to expect disruptions in traffic and public transportation and cautioning that protests could become brutal unexpectedly. They advised watchfulness, adherence to local authorities’ directions, and consistent monitoring of local media for updates.
The advisory noted, “Nationwide demonstrations are planned between July 29 to August 5, 2024. They could disrupt traffic and public transportation and could turn violent at any time.”
These warnings reflect elevated concerns over the planned nationwide protests and their likely effect on safety and security in Nigeria.
