U.S. Orders Evacuation of Embassy Staff, Families from Abuja Over Security Concerns

 The U.S. Department of State has directed its embassy staff and their families to depart Abuja, citing a worsening security environment in Nigeria.

A travel advisory released on Wednesday announced the directive, after a new evaluation of the country’s security situation.

According to the Department, the decision took effect on April 8, 2026, and reflects growing concerns over threats posed by crime, terrorism, and civil unrest across various parts of Nigeria.

Despite the evacuation order, Nigeria remains under a Level 3 travel advisory, which urges Americans to reconsider travel.

However, some states have now reached Level 4, which is the highest risk level, meaning travel to these areas is strongly advised against.

“Reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, unrest, kidnapping, and inconsistent availability of health care services. Some areas have an increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory,” the statement read in part.

“On April 8, 2026, the Department of State authorised non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave the U.S. Embassy Abuja due to the deteriorating security situation.”

The advisory identified multiple high-risk states across northern, central, and southern Nigeria, highlighting persistent threats such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and violent crime. It stressed that these risks continue to endanger both residents and foreign nationals.

Violent crime, according to the Department, remains widespread and includes armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, and hostage-taking. It further noted that kidnapping for ransom is a recurring issue, often targeting foreigners and dual nationals.

“Terrorist groups such as Boko Haram continue to plan and execute attacks, sometimes collaborating with criminal gangs.

“Potential targets include public spaces like markets, shopping centres, schools, places of worship, government buildings, and transport hubs.

“Civil unrest persists in parts of southern Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta and Southeast, driven by armed groups and protests.”

In addition to security threats, the advisory pointed to ongoing challenges within Nigeria’s healthcare system. These include limited access to essential medicines, unreliable emergency response services, and the requirement for upfront payment before treatment in many facilities.

The Department also warned that its ability to provide assistance to U.S. citizens in certain high-risk areas may be severely limited, urging Americans to avoid such locations entirely.

Nigeria: A State of Concern

This latest development follows a similar action taken in December 2025, when the United States imposed partial travel restrictions on Nigeria under a presidential proclamation aimed at strengthening border controls.

The evacuation order underscores mounting international concern over Nigeria’s security landscape, even as authorities continue efforts to address threats posed by insurgency, organised crime, and regional instability.

At the time, Nigeria was listed among countries subject to restrictions affecting specific immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories. The decision was based on security evaluations and immigration compliance data.

U.S. authorities cited concerns over the activities of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State, alongside visa overstay statistics involving Nigerian nationals.

The restrictions apply to visa classes including B-1, B-2, F, M, and J, although exemptions remain for certain groups such as diplomats and individuals with valid existing visas.

The evacuation order underscores mounting international concern over Nigeria’s security landscape, even as authorities continue efforts to address threats posed by insurgency, organised crime, and regional instability.

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