Federal Government has issued a warning to Nigerian citizens planning to travel to the United Kingdom, advising them to be cautious due to potential violence.
This advisory follows the recent killing of three young girls at a concert, which has sparked widespread unrest.
The cautionary statement, released early Monday, August 5th, and signed by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Eche Abu-Obe, highlighted the increasing violence linked to ongoing protests in the UK.
The press release, posted on the official X page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, “There is an increased risk of violence and disorder occasioned by the recent riots in the UK, stemming from the killing of three young girls at a concert. The violence has assumed dangerous proportions, as evidenced by reported attacks on law enforcement agents and damage to infrastructure.”
The statement further noted the size and unruly nature of demonstrations by far-right and other extra-parliamentary groups in various parts of the UK.
The disturbances have been exacerbated by the deaths of the three girls, leading to an anti-immigration narrative targeting Muslim immigrants and people of colour.
On July 29, 2024, a knife attack at a children’s yoga and dance workshop resulted in the tragic deaths of three children and left eight others injured, five of whom are in critical condition.
Two adults at the event also suffered critical injuries. This violent incident has fueled anti-Muslim disinformation, sparking Islamophobic protests and riots described as the worst in the UK in 13 years.
The Financial Times reported that the protests and riots are driven by broader Islamophobia, concerns over crime, anti-migration sentiment, xenophobia, nationalism, and perceived biases by the police and media.
