US Orders Employees to Leave Abuja Embassy in Upgraded Security Advisory

The US Department of State has issued a security advisory on Nigeria, authorizing non-emergency US government employees and their family members to leave the US Embassy in Abuja. According to the updated travel advisory issued on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, the US Department of State warned about a deteriorating security situation across Nigeria, urging Americans to reconsider traveling to the country due to crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest. It further classified Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, and Taraba states in its list of “Do Not Travel” areas, thereby increasing high-risk states in Nigeria where Americans are strongly discouraged from visiting to twenty-three. These Level 4 states are in the North, comprising Borno, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, and Adamawa, where it noted that terrorism, crime, and kidnapping are prevalent. The advisory also listed Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states among areas that are experiencing unrest, crime, and kidnapping. In the southern part of the country, the US security advisory identified Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers as areas that Americans should be mindful of visiting due to high rate of crimes, kidnapping, and violent protest.