The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a prominent rights organization, has sharply rebuked the Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, following his accusation that Iran is behind terrorism in Nigeria. In a scathing statement, the group suggested that the ambassador was “somnabulating” when he made the claim and warned him to reserve such “tales by moonlight” for the “fairy angels” in Tel Aviv and Washington.
The controversy erupted on March 6, 2026, when Ambassador Freeman accused Iran of orchestrating terrorist activities within Nigeria. According to a report on Vanguard, Freeman’s remarks were made during a press event where he linked Iran to instability in the region.
In response, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Executive Director of MIRUC, issued a detailed statement on the matter, strongly disapproving of the ambassador’s allegations. “We reject Israel’s allegations totally, completely, and categorically. This allegation is baseless, audacious, and fallacious,” he stated.
Akintola further questioned the integrity of the Israeli ambassador’s claims, suggesting that it is “the kettle calling the pot black.” He posed pivotal questions about Israel’s own history of state terrorism, asserting, “Who is the terrorist between Israel and Iran? Who is the champion of state terrorism in the whole world?”
The statement highlighted the Palestinian casualties resulting from ongoing conflicts, noting that as of March 6, 2026, at least 75,227 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the onset of hostilities on October 7, 2024. Among the deceased, 21,283 are identified as children and over 25,000 as women. Akintola categorized such actions as war crimes, criticizing Israel’s disregard for civilian lives.
He also referenced a November 21, 2024, warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. “The charges include using starvation as a weapon of war, murder, and persecution. What else can we call state terrorism?” Akintola asked.
In concluding his remarks, he reiterated the stance of Nigerians, stating, “You can railroad the White House. You can blackmail Arab leaders. Nigerians refuse to be hoodwinked. Sleep-walkers have no place here. Kudos to that journalist for shutting you up.”
As tensions rise over the ongoing conflict and political rhetoric, the controversy surrounding the Israeli ambassador’s remarks reflects deep-seated sentiments regarding international relations and the perceptions of state-sponsored violence.
