Prince Harry flies to Nigerian no go zone however leaves Meghan behind
- Duke of Sussex shook hands of young injured servicemen in a military hospital
Prince Harry travelled alone when he visited a military hospital in Kaduna, a region dubbed a no go zone by the Foreign and Commonwealth development office, MailOnline can reveal.
Harry, who has questioned his own security in the UK, flew to the hospital around 120 miles north west of Abuja and apologised on his arrival that he had left Meghan back in the capital of the west African country.
After being welcomed by dancers on a red carpet, Harry told the audience: ‘I’m sorry that I didn’t bring my wife.
‘The focus here in Kaduna is the wounded, injured and sick men and women who serve in Nigerian forces and keep people safe.’
Sources told the Mail that Meghan had a private engagement and was due to meet up with harry on his return later on Friday.
Prince Harry travelled without Meghan to Kaduna state in Nigeria, an area marked as a no-go zone by the UK Foreign Office
Harry toured around six wards full of wounded servicemen
The royal gave one of the recuperating young men in the ward a thumbs up
He shook hands with around 50 former service personnel, assuring them:’ You are going to get better, get back on your feet.’
The Duke of Sussex visited the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital on Friday
Prince Harry gesturing after visiting the Kaduna State Government House in Kaduna, Nigeria
Despite having previously been concerned about his security in the UK, the Duke of Sussex visited the high risk zone, which is known for kidnappings and rapes
Harry with Kaduna Governor Uba Sani at the Kaduna State Government House
Kaduna is one of the country’s most dangerous states, with nearly 2,000 abductions recorded in 2020, as well as reports of sexual violence including rape.
The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to the area, which is partly ruled by armed bandits.
Before he left, Harry was given two paintings — one of him and his late mother Princess Diana and another of him and wife Meghan.
Then he was asked to put on another gift — an outfit of a traditional waistcoat and a ‘Big Gown’ which he needed help getting over his head.
And, with a slightly bemused look, he followed the suggestion that he put on a Hula cap too.
Harry toured about six wards seeing row after row of young men recuperating from their injuries. Many had been shot, ambushed by Boko Haram or lost limbs due to blasts.
He shook hands with around 50 former service personnel and told them:’ You are going to get better, get back on your feet.’
Half way round he was introduced to 2nd Lt. Princess Owowoh, 23, who had recently graduated from Sandhurst military academy where Harry trained to be an army officer.
Harry has written to her when he’d heard her story. “He wrote to congratulate me and say that they were coming to Nigeria and about the Invictus Games Foundation,” she said
‘The Invictus Games gives hope to the soldiers. It encourages them to walk towards a goal, to achieve something new.’
Former royal protection officer Ken Wharfe, who accompanied the late Princess of Wales and the King to Nigeria in the early 1990s, told MailOnline that the trip laid bare Harry’s ‘hypocrisy’.
He said: ‘I went to Nigeria with Harry’s mother and father and it was pretty lawless back then and so you do have to question why he has gone there if he says the safety of his wife and children is uppermost.
Harry and Meghan on their tour of Nigerian capital Abuja on Friday
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at the Wuse Lightway Academy in Abuja on Friday morning
Members of their security personnel seen on the phone
On Friday the couple arrived at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja where they paid a visit to the Chief of Defence staff General Christopher Musa
‘If the situation deems that level of protection, then you do have to ask why he is there and for him to say he feels unsafe in London when he has all that security in London does leave you asking does it make sense to go.
‘He’s going to a high-risk country and I’m sure he will be looked after but he is a high level target and one that would certainly in the feather of anyone looking to make him a dramatic impact.’
Harry and Meghan have a four-person security team for their 72-hour visit to Nigeria for which they have paid themselves as well as additional protection provided by the west African country.
Their escort comprised ten army vehicles, two ambulances and three Toyota pickups with mounted machine guns.
While in Abuja, the couple visited the Lightway Academy college which receives support from their Archewell Foundation to educate and train young girls affected by conflicts in Nigeria.
Prince Harry speaks to those sitting with him at the Wuse Lightway Academy in Abuja on Friday
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, leaves the High Court in London, on March 27, 2023
As they kicked off an inaugural mental health summit organised by local non-profit Geanco, which partners their foundation, the couple were greeted by a dancing troupe and a crowd of excited students and teachers.
They will also visit non-governmental organisations which they support in Abuja and Lagos and attend basketball and volleyball matches.
Meghan will also co-host an event on women in leadership with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director general of the World Trade Organisation, according to their spokesman Charlie Gipson.
Prince Harry flies to Nigerian no go zone famed for armed bandits and kidnappers but leaves Meghan 120 miles behind him after couple enjoyed action packed rockstar welcome to country on their ‘quasi royal tour
