Michael Freeman, Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, has accused the Iranian government of sponsoring Islamic movements in Nigeria as part of efforts to spread terror across the globe.
His comments come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following coordinated airstrikes by the US and Israel on Iranian targets.
On Monday, members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shi’ites, staged protests in several states over the killing of Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, during recent US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.
Demonstrators were seen in Lagos, Kano, Niger state, Sokoto, Gombe, and Kaduna condemning the military action, which reportedly led to Khamenei’s death alongside members of his family.
Similar protests were reported in Bauchi and Yobe. Protesters waved Iranian flags, displayed portraits of Khamenei, and carried placards denouncing both the United States and Israel while expressing solidarity with Iran.
Speaking on Friday during an interview on AriseTV, Freeman said the Israeli government is aware of Iran-backed Islamic groups operating in Nigeria.
“We know there are certain movements, for example, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, that is sponsored and backed by the Iranian regime,” Freeman said.
He alleged that Iran’s involvement is not limited to Nigeria but extends across West Africa, describing Tehran’s longstanding hostility toward Israel and the West as a global threat.
“For 47 years, Iran has had a policy of death to Israel, death to America. Its entire apparatus, its state structure, has been sponsoring terrorism, sponsoring organizations around the world to kill Israelis, Jews, to spread terror,” Freeman said.
“We’ve seen Iran spreading terror. We’ve seen them developing a ballistic missile program, and a nuclear program. Nigeria has been on the receiving end of terrorism from Iran.”
On Thursday, Mahdavi Raja, Iran’s ambassador to Nigeria, defended Tehran’s decision to strike US military bases in neighbouring Gulf countries.
He said the attacks were in response to US and Israeli actions and that it was within Iran’s rights to act, even in countries maintaining friendly relations with Tehran.
Reports indicate Iran has launched missile and drone strikes on US military bases in Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.
Addressing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Freeman said defensive measures are justified.
“When a country says that they want to destroy you… and they are trying to build a nuclear weapon, it’s absolutely justified. Not only is it justified, it’s a moral obligation for a country to take the action needed to stop the country, in this case Iran, which wants to destroy Israel,” he said.
Freeman also condemned Iran’s global terror activities, citing sponsorship of groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, as well as attacks in Argentina, Bulgaria, the U.K., Australia, and Nigeria.
“This is a country that sponsors terror, whose Revolutionary Guard is a prescribed terror group across Europe and many other countries around the world. It’s quite clear that Iran is an international sponsor of terror. Any other accusation or claim is absurd,” Freeman said.
He noted Israel’s readiness to support Nigeria in addressing any spillover terror challenges.
“As Prime Minister Netanyahu said, we are willing and eager to partner with Nigeria according to Nigeria’s needs and desires in order to help tackle instability within Nigeria,” Freeman added.
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