The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has issued a strong condemnation of Nigeria’s newly announced security partnership with Israel, warning that the move could compromise the country’s sovereignty and entangle it in potential violations of international law.
In a statement, MPAC Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, described the agreement formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State of Israel as a “dangerous gamble” with far-reaching consequences.
The MoU reportedly outlines collaboration in key security areas, including counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, security financing, and advanced tactical training.
MPAC raised serious concerns about aligning Nigeria’s security apparatus with a country currently facing international scrutiny. Israel is under investigation by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over allegations of war crimes and genocide in Gaza, and MPAC questioned the morality and legitimacy of deepening ties under such circumstances.
“To imagine that such a state, whose security doctrine is shaped by unrestrained violence, collective punishment, and disregard for civilian immunity, can offer meaningful solutions to Nigeria’s security crisis is to embrace a dangerous illusion,” the statement read.
The group cautioned that the partnership could draw Nigeria into breaches of international humanitarian law, particularly if Israeli tactics or technologies tested in the occupied Palestinian territories are introduced into Nigerian operations.
MPAC further warned that Nigeria may become complicit in crimes against humanity through this alliance, especially if Israeli operatives or contractors play an active role in domestic security affairs.
“By allowing Israeli security operatives who may use tools developed in the context of human rights abuses into Nigeria’s security framework, we risk entanglement in international legal breaches,” the organization said.
The group also criticized Israel’s intelligence practices, accusing the country of “habitual manipulation of intelligence” that could be detrimental in Nigeria’s complex security environment. Kamor emphasized that foreign powers cannot provide lasting solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges.
“From Mali to Somalia, foreign interventions have only created dependency and institutional decay. Israel’s motives in Nigeria are not humanitarian; they are geopolitical, commercial, and strategic,” he said.
MPAC cast doubt on the effectiveness of Israel’s defense systems, citing major security failures such as the Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel in October 2023 and the April 2025 missile strike on Tel Aviv by Iran. These incidents, MPAC argued, call into question Israel’s capacity to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s own security.
“If Israel’s billion-dollar security architecture cannot protect its own cities, it is unrealistic to expect it will secure Nigeria’s markets, villages, and highways,” the group stated.
MPAC called on the Federal Government to disclose the full details of the agreement with Israel and subject it to both legislative and civil society scrutiny. It demanded an immediate suspension of the partnership pending the outcome of international legal proceedings involving Israel.
The organization urged Nigerian authorities to reaffirm the country’s longstanding foreign policy principles of justice, peace, and solidarity particularly with the Palestinian people.
As an alternative to foreign-led solutions, MPAC proposed a strategy centered on internal reforms. These include strengthening and equipping local security agencies, promoting the rule of law and accountability, addressing socio-economic drivers of insecurity, engaging religious and community leaders, and enhancing collaboration with African and multilateral institutions.
“Nigeria can and must chart its own path to peace one built on justice, dignity, and national pride,” Kamor said. “To outsource our security to a foreign power facing genocide charges is not a solution; it is a betrayal.”