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The United States government has authorised the withdrawal of non-essential personnel and their families from its embassy in Abuja, citing worsening security conditions across parts of Nigeria.
This directive, issued by the US State Department on Wednesday, follows an updated travel advisory highlighting increased risks in several regions of the country.
As part of the review, additional states—including Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, and Taraba—were placed on the “Do Not Travel” list due to rising incidents of terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. The move comes in the wake of a series of violent attacks recorded in these areas.
One of the most recent incidents occurred on March 29, when armed assailants attacked the Gari Ya Waye community in Angwan Rukub, Jos North, killing over 20 people and injuring several others during Palm Sunday observances.
In a separate attack earlier this week, gunmen reportedly killed at least 20 individuals across multiple communities in Niger State, while similar violence in Kebbi State left dozens dead.
The updated advisory now includes a broader list of high-risk states such as Borno, Kogi, Yobe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, and several states in the south-east and south-south regions.
The development mirrors a similar warning issued by the United Kingdom in November, which advised its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to more than 20 Nigerian states.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s security challenges have also been reflected globally. According to the 2026 Global Terrorism Index, the country ranks as the fourth most affected by terrorism worldwide, recording a 43 percent rise in fatalities compared to the previous year.
The report attributes the majority of these deaths to extremist groups such as ISWAP and Boko Haram, which together accounted for over 80 percent of terrorism-related fatalities in 2025.
In response to the persistent violence, several religious leaders have called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency to address the growing insecurity.
