(SeaPRwire) –   The U.S. State Department announced it has approved the evacuation of certain personnel from its embassy in Nigeria, citing a “deteriorating security situation” in the nation.

This move follows reports that the U.S. military dispatched MQ-9 Reaper drones to Nigeria several weeks ago, prompted by concerns of a resurgence by the terrorist organization Boko Haram. According to residents who spoke with The Associated Press, gunmen struck two villages approximately 155 miles from Abuja, the location of the U.S. embassy, the day before the authorization, resulting in 20 deaths.

The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria stated, “On April 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of State authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members from U.S. Embassy Abuja due to the deteriorating security situation.” It also noted, “The U.S. Embassy in Abuja will remain open but will have limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Nigeria.”

The statement added, “The U.S. Consulate General in Lagos will continue to provide routine and emergency services to U.S. citizens in Nigeria,” and confirmed that “The Department of State Travel Advisory for Nigeria remains at Level 3, recommending travelers reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed gangs, and inconsistent availability of health care services.”

U.S. citizens in Abuja were also advised by the embassy to “consider departing if you do not need to remain for emergency or essential purposes.”

These latest attacks took place in the early morning hours of Tuesday in the villages of Bagna and Erena, situated in the Shiroro area of Niger state.

“They came on motorbikes and began shooting. It was a surprise attack, because it was in the early hours of the morning,” Jibrin Isah, a resident of Erena, informed the AP.

While residents reported a death toll of at least 20, with additional individuals missing, local police officials stated that only three people were killed.

In a travel advisory released on Wednesday, the State Department warned of a “risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Nigeria,” further noting that “Terrorists collaborate with local gangs to expand their reach” and “They may attack with little or no warning.”

The deployment of MQ-9 drones to Nigeria in late March was reportedly preceded by the arrival of 200 U.S. troops in February to offer training and intelligence support. Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous country, is confronting a multifaceted security crisis, particularly in its northern regions.

A spokesperson for U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) previously told the AP that American military personnel “are working alongside their Nigerian counterparts to provide intelligence support, advisory assistance, and targeted training in support of the Nigerian Armed Forces.”

Boko Haram and its splinter group, which is allied with the Islamic State and operates as Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), are among the most significant Islamic militant organizations in Nigeria.

Other active groups include the ISIS-affiliated Lakurawa, in addition to various “bandit” factions that focus on kidnappings for ransom and illegal mining operations.

Former President Donald Trump has previously condemned violence directed at Christians in Nigeria, stating in a radio interview last year, “I’m really angry about it” and calling the situation “a disgrace.”

This occurred alongside a meeting last November between Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Nigerian national security advisor Nuhu Ribadu, which took place following threats from Trump to halt aid to Nigeria if it “continues to allow the killing of Christians.” Nigerian authorities have disputed these allegations.

Digital’s Anders Hagstrom and