The French government has issued a fresh travel advisory telling its citizens to avoid two regions in Nigeria at all costs, citing extreme security risks posed by jihadist groups. The warning identifies the Northeast and Northwest as areas where travel is too dangerous, following a series of violent attacks that have spread beyond Nigeria's northern belt.
Deadly Attacks Prompt Renewed Warning
The advisory comes after specific incidents raised alarm in recent months. On February 3, 2026, massacres were carried out in the villages of Woro and Nuku in Kwara State. Just over six weeks later, on March 16, 2026, an attack struck Maiduguri in Borno State. Both events were cited as evidence that the terrorist threat across Nigeria remains serious.
France said its nationals must understand that the risk from terrorist activity is high throughout the country, and that the two regions flagged carry the greatest danger. The advisory did not specify a timeline for the warning or outline conditions under which it might be lifted.
Threat Spreading South
Beyond the North, France drew attention to a troubling development in May 2026, when 39 students and their teachers were abducted in Oyo State. Authorities officially attributed the kidnappings to terrorist groups. For France, the incident signalled that the security threat is no longer confined to Nigeria's northern regions and is now pushing further south into parts of the country that were previously considered more stable.
The French advisory highlights extreme danger in Nigeria’s Northeast and Northwest, citing repeated jihadist atrocities and deadly attacks. The warning is part of a broader pattern of international concern about security in Nigeria.
US Issues 'Do Not Travel' Alert for 23 Countries
Legit.ng earlier reported that the United States Department of State updated its global travel advisory, classifying 23 nations under Level 4: Do Not Travel, the most severe category in its travel advisory system. The warning was announced through the department’s official TravelGov X account, where it stressed that the affected destinations pose extreme security risks or have limited capacity for the US government to provide consular assistance.
France's latest advisory reinforces the growing international concern over security in Nigeria, particularly in the Northeast and Northwest, where jihadist groups continue to operate with impunity.
