The United States on Tuesday authorized its diplomats to leave Abuja, the Nigerian capital, “due to the increased risk of terrorist attacks.
The authorization covers non-essential personnel and their families, the State Department said, adding that it was not an evacuation order and that travel restrictions for Americans in the country remain in place.
Several Western embassies, including the U.S., advised their citizens on Monday to limit travel to Nigeria because of the “heightened threat,” without providing details.
Following these multiple Western warnings, Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) assured that “all necessary precautions have been taken”.
Fighters linked to the Islamic State group (EI) have claimed responsibility for several attacks in states near the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in the past six months.