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

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

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

"On April 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of State authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. authorities employees and household members from U.S. Embassy Abuja owed to the deteriorating information situation," the U.S. Embassy and Consulate successful Nigeria said. "The U.S. Embassy successful Abuja volition stay unfastened but volition person constricted quality to supply exigency services to U.S. citizens successful Nigeria." 

"The U.S. Consulate General successful Lagos volition proceed to supply regular and exigency services to U.S. citizens successful Nigeria," it added. "The Department of State Travel Advisory for Nigeria remains at Level 3, recommending travelers reconsider question to Nigeria owed to crime, terrorism, civilian unrest, kidnapping, equipped gangs, and inconsistent availability 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 radical connected March 16. (Audu Marte/AFP/Getty Images)

The embassy besides said that "U.S. citizens successful Abuja should consider departing if you bash not request to stay for exigency oregon indispensable purposes." 

The caller attacks occurred successful the aboriginal 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 astonishment attack, due to the fact that it was successful the aboriginal hours of the morning," Jibrin Isah, who lives successful Erena, told the AP.

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

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

Residents said that astatine slightest 20 radical were killed, with much missing. However, section constabulary said that lone 3 radical were killed. 

The State Department said successful a question advisory issued Wednesday that determination is "risk of violent violence, including violent attacks and different enactment successful Nigeria," adding that "Terrorists collaborate with section gangs to grow their reach" and "They whitethorn onslaught with small oregon nary warning." 

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

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

Among the astir salient Islamic militant groups progressive successful Nigeria are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated with the Islamic State and is known arsenic Islamic State West Africa Province, oregon 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 the ISIS-linked Lakurawa, arsenic good arsenic different "bandit" groups that specialize successful kidnapping for ransom and amerciable mining. 

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

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

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

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