The US State Department did not provide further details about the threat in its statement, but the Department’s national intelligence warns that terrorists could attack with little or no warning, targeting malls, markets, hotels or schools, for example.
Washington had all of its diplomatic staff leave the city on Tuesday. Several Western embassies advised their citizens to limit travel within Nigeria.
Abuja was previously considered safe. But insurgents linked to the Islamic State (IS) jihadist militia have claimed responsibility for several attacks in surrounding areas in recent months.
Residents in the region, including Western diplomats, have become increasingly concerned since a mass jailbreak on the outskirts of Abuja in July. More than 400 prisoners escaped, including dozens of suspected jihadists. After repeated Western warnings, the Nigerian authorities assured that all necessary precautions had been taken.
(SDA)