Israeli ambassador says cooperation will respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and focus on tackling insecurity
Abuja, Nigeria — The Israeli government has announced plans to engage in intelligence sharing with Nigeria amid ongoing debates over alleged persecution of Christian communities and worsening insecurity across parts of the country.
Israel’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, disclosed this while responding to concerns raised internationally over claims of a so-called “Christian genocide” in Nigeria. According to him, Israel is willing to support Nigeria through intelligence cooperation and security expertise, but will do so strictly in collaboration with the Nigerian government.
The envoy stressed that Israel has no intention of acting unilaterally or interfering in Nigeria’s internal affairs, noting that any form of assistance would be carried out with the full consent and guidance of Nigerian authorities.
“Israel will not operate independently in Nigeria. Any support will be through intelligence sharing and cooperation with the Nigerian government,” Freeman said.
The comments come amid heightened international attention on Nigeria’s security challenges, including terrorist attacks, banditry, and communal violence that have affected communities across religious and ethnic lines.
While some foreign groups have described the violence as targeted attacks against Christians, the Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected the ‘genocide’ label, insisting that insecurity in the country is not religiously motivated but driven by terrorism, criminality, and weak security structures.
Security analysts note that Nigeria has increasingly relied on international intelligence partnerships to combat insurgency, particularly in the North-East, North-West, and parts of the Middle Belt.
The Israeli envoy’s remarks suggest that any proposed cooperation would focus on counter-terrorism intelligence, early warning systems, and strategic security support, rather than military intervention.
As debates continue globally, Nigerian authorities maintain that addressing insecurity requires strengthening local security institutions, improving intelligence gathering, and fostering unity, rather than inflaming religious tensions.
