By Peace Udugba -The daily torch media
The United States government has authorised the departure of non-emergency personnel and their family members from its embassy in Abuja following a worsening security situation in Nigeria.
According to an updated travel advisory issued by the US State Department on Wednesday, the decision was prompted by increasing concerns over terrorism, crime, and kidnapping across several parts of the country.
As part of the latest review, Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, and Taraba states were newly added to the “Do Not Travel” list, joining a number of states already classified as high-risk.
The move comes in the wake of a series of deadly attacks recorded in recent weeks. On March 29, gunmen invaded the Gari Ya Waye area of Angwan Rukuba in Jos North, killing more than 20 residents and injuring several others during the Christian observance of Palm Sunday.
Days after the incident, fresh attacks were reported in parts of Niger and Kebbi states, where at least 20 people were killed across multiple communities.
States currently flagged as high-risk in the advisory include Borno, Kogi, Yobe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, as well as southern states such as Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers.
The latest advisory aligns with similar warnings issued by other countries. In November, the United Kingdom advised its citizens against non-essential travel to 21 Nigerian states, including Niger, Plateau, and Kebbi, citing security concerns.
Nigeria’s security challenges have also drawn global attention. In the 2026 Global Terrorism Index, the country was ranked the fourth most unsafe in the world, recording the highest increase in terrorism-related fatalities, with deaths rising by 43 percent compared to 2024.
The report attributed more than 80 percent of the fatalities to the activities of ISWAP and Boko Haram.
In response to the escalating insecurity, some religious leaders have called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency, urging more decisive and coordinated efforts to address the violence and restore stability across affected regions.
