US allowing some Nigeria embassy staff to evacuate over 'deteriorating security situation'

The State Department said it authorized nan departure of immoderate unit astatine its embassy successful Nigeria complete nan "deteriorating information situation" successful nan African country. 

The improvement comes weeks aft nan U.S. subject reportedly sent MQ-9 Reaper drones to Nigeria amid fears of a renewed insurgency by nan violent group Boko Haram. The time earlier nan authorization was issued, gunmen attacked 2 villages astir 155 miles from Abuja, wherever nan U.S. embassy is located, sidesplitting 20 people, residents told The Associated Press. 

"On April 8, 2026, nan U.S. Department of State authorized nan voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. authorities labor and family members from U.S. Embassy Abuja owed to nan deteriorating information situation," nan U.S. Embassy and Consulate successful Nigeria said. "The U.S. Embassy successful Abuja will stay unfastened but will person constricted expertise to supply emergency services to U.S. citizens successful Nigeria." 

"The U.S. Consulate General successful Lagos will proceed to supply regular and emergency services to U.S. citizens successful Nigeria," it added. "The Department of State Travel Advisory for Nigeria remains at Level 3, recommending travelers reconsider recreation to Nigeria owed to crime, terrorism, civilian unrest, kidnapping, equipped gangs, and inconsistent readiness of wellness attraction services."

GUNMEN ON BIKES STORM NIGERIA VILLAGE ON PALM SUNDAY, KILLING AT LEAST 20

Nigerian soldiers hole to patrol successful Maiduguri connected March 18, 2026, pursuing a deadly triple termination bombing that killed 23 group connected March 16. (Audu Marte/AFP/Getty Images)

The embassy besides said that "U.S. citizens successful Abuja should consider departing if you do not request to stay for emergency aliases basal purposes." 

The caller attacks occurred successful nan early hours of Tuesday successful Bagna and Erena, located in the Shiroro area of Niger state. 

"They came connected motorbikes and began shooting. It was a surprise attack, because it was successful nan early hours of nan morning," Jibrin Isah, who lives successful Erena, told nan AP.

100 US TROOPS LAND IN NIGERIA AS ISLAMIC MILITANTS THREATEN WEST AFRICA REGIONAL SECURITY

Police officers stitchery astatine nan segment of Sunday nighttime gunmen onslaught successful Gari Ya Waye organization successful nan Jos North Nigeria, Monday, March 30, 2026. (Samson Omale/AP)

Residents said that astatine slightest 20 group were killed, pinch much missing. However, section constabulary said that only 3 group were killed. 

The State Department said successful a recreation advisory issued Wednesday that location is "risk of violent violence, including violent attacks and different activity successful Nigeria," adding that "Terrorists collaborate pinch section gangs to grow their reach" and "They whitethorn onslaught pinch small aliases nary warning." 

The MQ-9 drones reportedly were deployed to Nigeria successful precocious March aft 200 U.S. troops arrived successful February to supply training and intelligence. Nigeria, Africa’s astir populous country, is battling a analyzable information crisis, particularly successful nan northbound of nan country.

A spokesperson for AFRICOM, nan U.S. Africa Command, had told nan AP that U.S. troops "are moving alongside their Nigerian counterparts to supply intelligence support, advisory assistance, and targeted training successful support of nan Nigerian Armed Forces."  

Among nan astir salient Islamic militant groups progressive successful Nigeria are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated pinch nan Islamic State and is known arsenic Islamic State West Africa Province, aliases ISWAP.

A U.S. subject MQ-9 Reaper drone approaches for landing astatine Rafael Hernandez Airport successful Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, connected Dec. 29, 2025. (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP)

There is besides nan ISIS-linked Lakurawa, arsenic good arsenic different "bandit" groups that specialize successful kidnapping for ransom and forbidden mining. 

President Donald Trump has spoken retired against unit targeting Christians successful Nigeria, telling Fox News Radio past twelvemonth "I’m really angry astir it" and "What’s happening successful Nigeria is simply a disgrace."

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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth besides met pinch Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu past November amid threats from Trump to trim disconnected assistance to Nigeria if nan state "continues to let nan sidesplitting of Christians." Nigerian officials person pushed backmost connected nan accusation.

Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom and The Associated Press contributed to this report.