The Federal Government has issued a warning to Nigerian citizens planning to travel to the United Kingdom, citing concerns over escalating violence following the tragic deaths of three young girls at a concert.
In a statement released Monday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, Spokesperson Amb. Eche Abu-Obe said, “The violence has assumed dangerous proportions, as evidenced by reported attacks on law enforcement agents and damage to infrastructure.”
The government advised Nigerian travelers to exercise extreme caution and take several precautionary measures, including: Avoiding political processions and protests, steering clear of rallies or marches, staying away from crowded areas and large gatherings, maintaining vigilance and self-awareness at all times
The Explainer gathered that recent weeks have seen large demonstrations by far-right and other extra-parliamentary groups across parts of the UK, some of which have turned unruly.
The situation has been further exacerbated by the deaths of the three girls, fueling an anti-immigration narrative that has particularly targeted Muslim immigrants and people of color.
Last Tuesday, a northern English town witnessed a clash between a large crowd of anti-Muslim protesters and police.
This unrest followed Monday’s horrific stabbing incident at a Taylor Swift-themed event in Southport, a quiet seaside town north of Liverpool, where three girls were fatally stabbed and five other children critically wounded.
“These disturbances have only been aggravated by the unfortunate deaths of the three girls,” the statement noted.
Authorities have stated that the stabbing incident is not linked to terrorism and that the suspect was born in the UK.
Nevertheless, the tragedy has sent shockwaves throughout the nation and intensified existing tensions.
The Federal Government’s alert aims to ensure the safety of Nigerian citizens amidst this volatile situation in the UK
