KEY POINTS
- US Embassy issues terror threat warning covering Abuja and Lagos.
- Embassy advises citizens to vary routes and avoid predictable patterns.
- Warning follows US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader.
The United States Embassy in Nigeria put American citizens on notice Monday, warning of a possible terrorist threat against US facilities and US-affiliated schools in the country and urging them to take immediate precautions.
The US Embassy terror threat alert, published on the embassy’s official website, specifically flagged the US Embassy in Abuja and the US Consulate General in Lagos as potential targets. American nationals were told to vary their travel routes and times, keep a low profile in public and ensure their phones stayed charged in case of emergencies.
“Be aware of your surroundings, review your personal security plans, vary your regular routes, stay alert in public places, avoid crowds and demonstrations, and familiarise yourself with emergency exits when entering buildings,” the embassy said in the notice. The embassy did not identify the source of the threat.
Warning Comes Amid Iran War Fallout
The alert lands against a volatile global backdrop. The United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has since responded with missile and drone attacks against US-aligned neighbours in the region. Reports also indicate that the wife of the Supreme Leader died from injuries sustained during the strikes on their residence in Tehran.
Inside Nigeria, the fallout has already stirred domestic unrest. Members of the Islamic Movement’s South-West leadership staged protests in Lagos and several northern states, condemning the killing of Khamenei and expressing solidarity with Iran.
Christmas Day Bombings Add to Tensions
The US Embassy terror threat notice also comes months after President Donald Trump ordered US air strikes on Nigerian soil on Christmas Day, which he described as targeting jihadists. Trump had publicly stated that Christians were being persecuted in Nigeria, a claim disputed in a country where violence has cut across both Christian and Muslim communities.
The embassy finally encouraged all American citizens in Nigeria to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive ongoing security updates and to consult the Nigeria country information page on the US State Department’s travel website for the latest guidance.
