The United States government (US) has ordered the evacuation of "non-emergency" personnel and their family members in Nigeria, just 48 hours after its embassy there issued a security notice about a potential terrorist assault in Nigeria, particularly Abuja.
On Tuesday, October 25, the US State Department updated its travel advice for Nigeria and stated that the approval had been received.
The update noted that the US embassy in Abuja will have “limited
ability” to provide emergency assistance to US citizens while the
consulate in Lagos is still providing routine and emergency services.
“On October 25, 2022, the Department authorized the departure of
non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members due to the
heightened risk of terrorist attacks.
The U.S. Embassy Abuja continues to have limited ability to provide
emergency assistance to U.S. citizens in Nigeria. The U.S. Consulate in
Lagos is providing all routine and emergency services to U.S. citizens
in Nigeria.”
The advisory also indicated that Nigeria is rated Level 3 which means
citizens should reconsider traveling to the country. It advised
Americans to shelve travel plans “due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest,
kidnapping, and maritime crime”.
Although Nigeria is a Level 3 country, some states are said to have a
higher risk of attacks, and as such, are Level 4 which means Americans
should not travel to such places.
Americans were warned of possible terrorist attacks and kidnapping in
Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Zamfara
states. Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers states — with
the exception of Port Harcourt — were also listed as Level 4 “due to
crime, kidnapping, and maritime crime”.
The US state department warned that terrorists may attack with little or
no warning, and will target public places like shopping centers, malls,
markets, hotels, places of worship, restaurants, bars, schools,
government installations, and transportation hubs.
US authorizes evacuation of non-critical staff in
Nigeria over risk of terror attacks
Barely 48 hours after its embassy in Nigeria issued a security alert of a
possible terrorist attack in Nigeria, especially Abuja, the United
States government (US) have authorized the evacuation of
“non-emergency” employees and their family members in Nigeria.
The US state department announced the approval in an update on its
Nigeria travel advisory on Tuesday evening, October 25.
The update noted that the US embassy in Abuja will have “limited
ability” to provide emergency assistance to US citizens while the
consulate in Lagos is still providing routine and emergency services.
“On October 25, 2022, the Department authorized the departure of
non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members due to the
heightened risk of terrorist attacks.
The U.S. Embassy Abuja continues to have limited ability to provide
emergency assistance to U.S. citizens in Nigeria. The U.S. Consulate in
Lagos is providing all routine and emergency services to U.S. citizens
in Nigeria.”
The advisory also indicated that Nigeria is rated Level 3 which means
citizens should reconsider traveling to the country. It advised
Americans to shelve travel plans “due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest,
kidnapping, and maritime crime”.
Although Nigeria is a Level 3 country, some states are said to have a
higher risk of attacks, and as such, are Level 4 which means Americans
should not travel to such places.
Americans were warned of possible terrorist attacks and kidnapping in
Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Zamfara
states. Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers states — with
the exception of Port Harcourt — were also listed as Level 4 “due to
crime, kidnapping, and maritime crime”.
The US state department warned that terrorists may attack with little or
no warning, and will target public places like shopping centers, malls,
markets, hotels, places of worship, restaurants, bars, schools,
government installations, and transportation hubs.
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