JOHANNESBURG

Nigeria has issued a travel warning to citizens planning to visit Britain to be extra vigilant and take measures following anti-asylum riots, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

"Avoid political processions and protest, rallies or marches. Avoid crowded areas large gatherings and be vigilant and self-aware all times," the advisory warned.

The UK has been gripped by far-right riots for days, with violent mobs spewing racist and Islamophobic vitriol and targeting Muslims, minority groups, and migrants.

The riots were fueled by online misinformation that a suspect arrested after a fatal stabbing in Southport, England last week was a Muslim asylum seeker, a claim which was false.

Three young girls were killed and five more children critically injured during a knife attack as they attended a dance class last Monday.