The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has accused the Iranian government of sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria and across West Africa, alleging that Tehran supports the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) as part of its wider regional influence.
Freeman made the allegation during an interview with ARISE News, where he claimed that Iran has been backing certain Islamic movements in Nigeria in an attempt to spread instability and expand its ideological reach beyond the Middle East. According to the envoy, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria — a Shiite organization founded by cleric Ibrahim Zakzaky — is among the groups he believes receive support from the Iranian government.
“We know that there are certain movements, for example, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, which is sponsored and backed by the Iranian regime,” Freeman said, adding that evidence of such backing has been publicly documented by Iranian officials and statements from Iran’s leadership.
The ambassador further alleged that Iran has a long history of sponsoring militant organizations globally. He pointed to groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah in the Middle East and claimed that Tehran’s activities extend into parts of Africa, including Nigeria and the broader West African region.
Freeman also linked the accusations to Israel’s ongoing geopolitical conflict with Iran, stating that Tehran’s political system has supported organizations that engage in violent activities against Israeli interests and allies. He argued that Iran’s actions over the past several decades demonstrate a consistent pattern of backing groups involved in armed conflict and destabilization across different regions.
However, Iranian officials have strongly rejected the allegations. The Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, described the claims as “unfounded” and part of a propaganda campaign aimed at discrediting Iran internationally. According to him, Iran has itself been a victim of terrorism and supports international cooperation against extremist violence.
The Islamic Movement of Nigeria has also denied the accusation, insisting that it operates as a religious and social organization and does not receive terrorist backing from any foreign government….See More
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