The Embassy of Israel in Nigeria has accused Iran of sponsoring terrorism across the globe and backing militant networks, including alleged links to activities in Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the Israeli mission challenged recent remarks by Iran’s envoy to Nigeria denying Tehran’s involvement in terrorism, insisting that evidence accumulated over the years contradicts such claims.
The embassy said Iran has long been identified by several governments and security agencies as a major state sponsor of terrorism, accusing the country of providing funding, weapons, training and strategic guidance to militant groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthi movement.
According to the statement issued on Monday, these groups have carried out attacks against civilians and contributed to instability in several parts of the world, particularly in the Middle East.
The embassy further alleged that Iranian-backed operatives and networks have been linked to attacks and plots in different countries, including Argentina, Bulgaria, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Highlighting developments in the Middle East, the mission said Iranian leaders publicly praised the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas against Israeli civilians and encouraged further violence against Israel.
The embassy also pointed to past incidents in Nigeria which it said suggested Iranian-linked activities within the country.
It recalled that in 2010, Nigerian authorities intercepted a shipment of weapons originating from Iran at Apapa Port in Lagos, concealed in containers allegedly destined for militant groups in West Africa.
The statement also referenced a 2013 operation by Nigerian security agencies in which a Hezbollah-linked cell and weapons cache were uncovered, leading to arrests in Abuja and Kano. Authorities at the time said the weapons were intended for attacks against Israeli and Western interests in Nigeria.
Israel’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, said Iran’s repeated denials could not erase what he described as a documented history of support for militant organisations.
“The Iranian regime can make as many statements as they like and appear on as many television channels as they want. But facts speak louder than words. The reality is that Iran is the world’s largest sponsor of terrorism and has backed the Islamic Movement of Nigeria for years,” he said.
The embassy said it considered it necessary to challenge what it described as misinformation, stressing that terrorism remains a major threat to global peace and stability, including in Nigeria.
