Israel’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has reiterated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s commitment to collaborate with the Federal Government of Nigeria in intelligence sharing and counterterrorism efforts aimed at addressing the rising attacks on Christians in parts of the country.
The Israeli Head of Mission gave the assurance in an interview with Nigerian television network ARISE News, where he underscored Prime Minister Netanyahu’s readiness to work closely with Nigerian authorities, under the government’s guidance, in areas requiring urgent security intervention.
According to Ambassador Freeman, Israel remains prepared to act as a reliable ally in confronting terrorism and religiously motivated violence, particularly where civilian populations are being targeted.
“Our aim is to work with the Nigerian government, and the Prime Minister highlighted issues of intelligence sharing and other areas of cooperation. We will be led and guided by the Nigerian government on where we can work and when we can partner, because this is very much about working with an ally, collaborating and taking concrete steps to tackle insecurity as a whole in this country” he said
The remarks reaffirm Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Christmas message, in which he issued a strong condemnation of the persecution of Christians by militant Islamist groups and stressed that such violence “must come to an end,” describing the attacks as barbaric and unacceptable.
“The persecution of Christians or members of any religion cannot and must not be tolerated, and Muslim militant displacement and attacks against Christians in Nigeria, that too must end, and it must end now” he asserted
In his address, Netanyahu expressed concern over the declining Christian population in parts of the Middle East, contrasting it with Israel, where he said Christian communities continue to grow and enjoy full religious rights without restriction. He attributed the dwindling Christian presence in countries such as Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Palestine to systematic discrimination and oppression.
The Israeli Ambassador’s comments come days after the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an ISIS-affiliated group, carried out a series of deadly attacks on Christian communities in Timoa, Mondag, and Higa, all in Adamawa State, between December 26 and 29, disrupting Christmas celebrations.
Security analyst Brant Philip reported the incidents in a detailed thread documenting the attacks. According to the account, ISWAP first struck Timoa, killing four people, abducting five others, and destroying properties.
The following day, the group attacked Mondag, where 11 Christians were killed and homes were razed. Victims were reportedly labelled “hostile” by the attackers. A third attack was later carried out in Higa, continuing the violent pattern.
Analysts have raised concerns that the attacks may represent a retaliatory campaign, possibly linked to the Christmas bombing in north-west Sokoto State, which was reportedly foiled through cooperation between Nigerian intelligence and the United States.
Israel’s renewed pledge to support Nigeria in combating terrorism marks the latest in a series of diplomatic engagements between both countries. It follows an 11 August 2025 security-focused meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Israel’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sharon Miriam Haskel-Harpaz.
Discussions from that engagement centred on counterterrorism cooperation, intelligence sharing, security financing, and broader collaboration to address Nigeria’s security challenges.
A subsequent technical session was co-chaired by Ambassador Janet Olisa, Director (Regions) at Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Sharon Bar-Li, Israel’s Deputy Director-General and Head of the Africa Division. The Israeli government has indicated that its continued engagement with Nigeria reflects a broader commitment to religious freedom, regional stability, and international cooperation against extremist violence.
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