The Embassy of Israel in Nigeria today issued a statement on recent comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about helping protect Christian communities in Nigeria.
Ambassador Michael Freeman made clear that Israel's support will focus on intelligence sharing and working closely with the Nigerian government, not any kind of one-sided action.
"This is about partnering with Nigeria as an ally," said Ambassador Freeman. "We will respect Nigeria's sovereignty and be guided by its leaders on where we can help." He added that the goal is to stop violence that affects everyone in Nigeria, including Christians, Muslims, and others – not just one group.
The Ambassador pointed out Israel's strong record on religious freedom. "Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians are growing in number and can worship freely," he said.
This comes after some groups raised concerns about attacks on Christians in Nigeria, calling it a serious threat. However the Nigerian government sees these issues as part of wider security problems like terrorism and crime. Some Muslim leaders in Nigeria have warned against outside involvement, saying it could interfere in the country's affairs.
The Embassy stressed that all talks on intelligence will stay private to keep them effective. Israel looks forward to building stronger ties with Nigeria to make the country safer for all.