The United Kingdom authorities have issued a travel advisory, warning citizens to shelve “all but essential travel” plans to Rivers and surrounding riverine towns over President Bola Tinubu’s invocation of a state of emergency in the state on Tuesday. 

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) informed British citizens that Rivers was a no-go area for non-essential travel, cautioning that the democratic governor had been temporarily replaced by a military administration.

“On 18 March, a six month State of Emergency was declared in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria,” the alert stated.

“The FCDO already advises against all but essential travel to Rivers State, and against all travel to riverine areas of the State.”

Mr Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the state legislature for six months on Tuesday over a feud caused by the governor’s fallout with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister.

Mr Fubara and his family members were held hostage by military personnel for hours at the Government House in Port Harcourt following President Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency under Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution. They were later allowed to leave the official quarters on Wednesday morning.

A contingent of armed soldiers, under military dictator and former Chief of Naval Staff Ibot-Ete Ekwe, has since besieged the state and will be stationed there for the next six months.

Actresses Hilda Dokubo, Ibinabo Fiberesima, and other state residents have bemoaned the strong military presence, expressing their support for Mr Fubara.