The US has authorised “non-emergency” staff and their families to leave its embassy in Nigeria, following what it calls a deteriorating security situation across the country.
The US state department travel advice on Wednesday also asked American citizens to reconsider travel to the country, citing risks such as “terrorism, civil unrest [and] kidnapping”.
Specific Nigerian states with an increased risk have been placed under the most severe warning that advises against all travel in the affected areas, it added.
The advisory comes amid a fresh surge in deadly attacks across parts of the country, and despite an expanding security partnership between the two nations.
According to the US state department, Washington has been working with Abuja on counter‑terrorism, maritime security, intelligence sharing and military training.
Recent cooperation has included surveillance and reconnaissance support, and the use of US‑supplied aircraft and helicopters by Nigerian forces against Islamist insurgents and armed groups.
The decision to scale back embassy staffing underscores the gap between strategic military cooperation and the reality of daily insecurity faced by civilians in many parts of the country.
In the travel advisory, US citizens were warned that attacks could occur with little or no warning in public spaces including markets, hotels, places of worship, schools and transport hubs.
Source: BBC
