Insecuity: US orders non-emergency staff to leave Nigeria
By Samuel Ogunsona
The US Department of State has authorized non-emergency US government employees and their family members to leave the US Embassy in Abuja, citing a deteriorating security situation across Nigeria.
Irohinodua learnt that the move is in response to the escalating insecurity in the country, with 23 states now listed as “Do Not Travel” areas.
The updated travel advisory, issued on April 8, 2026, warns Americans to reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest.
The advisory classified the overall travel advisory for Nigeria as “Level 3: Reconsider Travel,” while some states are at “Level 4: Do Not Travel”.
The Level 4 states that US citizens are urged to avoid includes Borno, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, and northern Adamawa, due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara, citing unrest, crime, and kidnapping. Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers (excluding Port Harcourt), due to crime, kidnapping, and unrest
“Reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, unrest, kidnapping, and inconsistent availability of health care services. Some areas have increased risk,” the advisory stated.
The US government has expressed concerns over the widespread violence, kidnapping, and armed crime in these states, warning that security operations to counter these threats may occur without warning.
