UK RIOTS: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ISSUE TRAVEL WARNINGS TO NIGERIANS

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In light of the ongoing riots in the UK, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel advisory to Nigerians who intend to visit the country.

The travel alert, which was contained in a statement released on Monday, urged Nigerians to be more vigilant, avoid crowded areas and also not engage in political processions and protests.

The message titled, ‘travel alert’ read, “There is an increased risk of violence and disorder occasioned by the recent riots in the UK, stemming from the killing of 3 young girls at a concert.

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“The violence has assumed dangerous proportions, as evidenced by reported attacks on law enforcement agents and damage to infrastructure.

“To this end, citizens are advised to be extra vigilant and take measures as follows:
• Avoid political processions and protests, rallies or marches
• Avoid crowded areas and large gatherings
• Be vigilant and self aware at all times
• Contact the High Commission with a view to passing information that could be of interest via e-mail and telephone, he@nigeriahc.org.uk, +442078391244.

“Background: Demonstrations by far right and other extra-parliamentary groups in parts of the UK in recent weeks have been large, and, in some instances, unruly.

The riots that first broke out in Southport, north-west England, last week has now seen hundreds of people arrested.

The violence was triggered by the stabbing of three young girls in Southport, northwest England, earlier in the week. The far right has seized on and spread a wave of disinformation, including false claims the attacker was an immigrant, to mobilize anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant protests. Police say the suspect was born in Britain.

The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, will today chair a Cobra meeting, which will bring together ministers and the police to discuss how to quell the violence.

Last Monday, three young girls were killed and five more children critically injured during a knife attack as they attended a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.

Other riots have broken out in towns and cities across the country, with anti-immigration demonstrators facing off against police, and Muslim counter-protestors in some instances.

Starmer on Sunday warned far-right protesters that they would “regret” participating in England’s worst rioting in 13 years, while his interior minister Yvette Cooper told the BBC on Monday that “there will be a reckoning”.

Police have blamed the violence on supporters and associated organisations of the English Defence League, an anti-Islam organisation founded 15 years ago whose supporters have been linked to football hooliganism.

Some of the worst violence on Sunday broke out in Rotherham, northern England, where masked demonstrators smashed several windows at a hotel that has been used to house asylum seekers.

At least 10 officers were injured, including one who was knocked unconscious, said South Yorkshire Police.

There were also large scuffles in Bolton, north west England, and Middlesbrough, north east England, where rioters smashed windows of houses and cars, leading to 43 arrests.

Protesters there seized a camera from an AFP crew and broke it. The journalists were not injured.

Late on Sunday, Staffordshire police said another hotel known to have sheltered asylum seekers was targeted near Birmingham.