Insecurity : U.S. Orders Staff To Leave Nigeria Embassy, Warns Citizens Against Traveling To Nigeria

The United States Department of State has authorised the departure of “non-emergency” staff and their families from the US embassy in Abuja, following what it described as a “deteriorating security situation” across parts of the country.

In the State Department’s travel update on Wednesday 8th April, 2026, Washington has also advised Americans to reconsider traveling to Nigeria, citing risks such as terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, civil unrest, and access to reliable healthcare services.

While the travel advisory classified Nigeria as still under Level 3 : Reconsider Travel,” several other states are classified under “Level 4: Do Not Travel.”

The travel advisory listed states to be avoided by the US citizens to include Borno, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Northern Adamawa States, due to unstable and uncertain nature of insecurity in these areas.

Other states listed by the updated advisory included Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara, also due to insecurity bordering on unrest, crime and kidnapping.

In the Southern and Southeastern part of the country, the advisory listed states to be avoided to include Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers.

A total number of 23 states are known to have been listed as”Do Not Travel” areas to watch out by the Americans.

In the travel advisory, US citizens are strongly warned that attacks could occur with little or no warning in public places such as markets, hotels, places of worship, and schools.