Following the incessant terrorist attacks in Nigeria and the high-security alert that followed the attacks on the Kuje Custodial Center in Abuja on Tuesday, July 5, the Republic of Turkey has barred Nigerian visa applicants from accessing the e-visa provisions. Applicants are advised, henceforth, to apply via any Turkish Consulate.

According to a report by Leadership on Thursday, July 7, prospective applicants experienced the sudden change without prior notice or communication from the Turkish Mission in Nigeria.

An applicant affected by the development, in a chat with the newspaper, said:

“Just putting this out there. Someone out there with a Schengen /UK/US visa might be booking a ticket to Turkey right now thinking they will apply for a visa electronically. DO NOT.

“Turkey decided to delist Nigerians from the e-visa list yesterday evening. With no prior warning/ communication. They clearly don’t rate us. Anyway all Nigerians have to apply via the consulate wherever they are.”

Some members of the diplomatic community such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada have warned their citizens against travelling to many parts of Nigeria even in some parts of Abuja, the nation’s capital over security threats.

According to Alhaji Bashir Magashi, Nigeria’sMinister of Defence, Boko Haram suspects detained in Kuje Prison in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have all escaped, following the Kuje Custodial Center attack.

The minister who blamed the attack on insurgents made this disturbing revelation on Wednesday, July 6, during a media briefing at the Abuja facility. He said:“What actually happened, they came in their numbers and released some of the inmates. We are now trying to see the kind of inmates they released.”