The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has clarified that Israel’s proposed support for protecting Christian communities in Nigeria is strictly a collaborative effort with the Nigerian government, centred on intelligence sharing and joint security initiatives.
In an interview with ARISE News on Monday, Freeman addressed concerns about Israel’s recent announcement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on an “eighth front” to counter radical Islamist violence globally.
He emphasised that the initiative is aimed at assisting persecuted communities, including Christians in Nigeria, while fully respecting the country’s sovereignty.
“What Prime Minister Netanyahu said was very clear: the aim is to ensure support for those persecuted around the world, and he highlighted Christians in particular, including those in Nigeria,” Freeman said.
“This is about working with Nigeria, not against Nigeria. It is a partnership.”
The ambassador explained that the primary mechanism for collaboration would be intelligence sharing, intended to prevent violence affecting all Nigerians, rather than any unilateral military action.
“Israel’s role is to work with the Nigerian government to stop attacks against Christians, Muslims, and all citizens,” he said.
“We will follow the lead of the Nigerian authorities to determine where our partnership can be most effective, because this is very much about cooperating with an ally to address insecurity in the country.”
Freeman maintained diplomatic discretion regarding formal communications with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, noting that intelligence matters are highly sensitive.
“Any communication behind the scenes will remain confidential. Discussing intelligence publicly would undermine its effectiveness,” he said.
Addressing concerns that the move could be aimed at broader geopolitical leverage, the ambassador stressed Israel’s commitment to religious freedom.
He highlighted that Israel remains the only Middle Eastern country where the Christian population continues to grow and worship freely.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke about Christians worldwide, not just in Nigeria,” Freeman said.
“Israel’s record demonstrates genuine concern for religious freedom and the protection of vulnerable communities.”
Netanyahu’s announcement came during a meeting in Florida with U.S. President Donald Trump and senior officials, where discussions included the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, the West Bank, Iran, and Lebanon.
The Israeli government described the new initiative as a global effort to counter threats against Christian communities in the Middle East and Africa.
Israel’s proposed support coincides with U.S. military action in Nigeria. In December, reported U.S. airstrikes targeted terrorist groups in Northwest Nigeria, fulfilling President Trump’s pledge to intervene against groups allegedly persecuting Christians in the region.
The partnership between Israel and Nigeria, as explained by Ambassador Freeman, is positioned as a cooperative, intelligence-led strategy rather than a unilateral military operation, signalling continued international engagement to safeguard communities facing religiously motivated attacks.
