Lagos, Friday, 02/01/2026
The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria, expresses grave concern over actions and emerging policy directions that risk dragging Nigeria into a needless and dangerous collision with its Muslim population through external security alliances – particularly with states such as Israel and the United States, whose current foreign policy positions and military engagements are widely known as prosecuting violent and ideological wars against Muslim populations.
MPAC reiterates its longstanding opposition to the Security Cooperation Agreement signed between Nigeria and Israel on August 22, 2025, an agreement with a party whose implications ideology remain deeply troubling, opaque, and its track record incompatible with Nigeria’s national interest, and constitutional duty to protect all citizens without bias.
On New Year’s anniversary, Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is wanted by The Hague for international crimes, told U.S. evangelical leaders in Florida Israel plans to support persecuted Christian communities in Nigeria with intelligence backing. Given Israel’s aggressive actions against Palestinians (Muslims and Christians) – with death tolls nearing 1m by some accounts – and engaged in unrestrained violence against its neighbors, Nigeria should avoid legitimizing or supporting actors known for their violent way of life, and specifically hostile to Islam and Muslims. Such alignment risks putting Nigeria on a dangerous path.
Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank have resulted in significant harm to Palestinian Christians, including deaths and the destruction of historic churches. Some of the affected churches include:
The Gaza Christian community is facing an existential crisis caused by Israel’s actions and fanaticaly supported by the U.S. evangelical groups. Before the current attack on Gaza, there were around 1,700 Christians in Gaza (reduced to this number due to decades of repression and displacement by Israel), but now only about 600- 1,000 remain. Many have been killed, displaced, or forced to flee due to Israeli attacks and the humanitarian crisis. The attacks on historic churches in Gaza and the West Bank have drawn condemnation from Christian leaders and human rights organizations, citing violations of international law and humanitarian principles. For the third consecutive year, Israel’s actions have made it impossible to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ’s (AS) birthplace, threatening the peace of the holy land shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Nigeria must not allow itself to become a willing or unwitting instrument in a broader geopolitical agenda aimed at expanding attacks and repression against Muslims. The objectives of Israel and its principal ally, the United States, in exporting security doctrines and military influence into societies, especially those with sizeable Muslim populations, are well documented. Nigeria must not provide the means for these objectives to be actualised on its soil.
MPAC reiterates that Nigeria’s security challenges are not rooted in religion. The ongoing crises of terrorism, banditry, and violent crime are national failures requiring inclusive, intelligence-driven, and locally accountable solutions. Framing these challenges through external partnerships and military interventions with actors engaged in a global war against Muslims is both misleading and dangerous.
The Federal Government bears a solemn responsibility to ensure that no agreement, cooperation, or intervention – foreign or otherwise – endangers the lives of Muslim Nigerians or fuels perceptions of state complicity in anti-Muslim aggression.
It must also be clearly understood that Muslims constitute the overwhelming majority of Nigeria’s voting population. Any policy, alliance, or security arrangement perceived as hostile to Muslim interests – whether directly or by association – will not be forgotten. The cooperation of the Nigerian government with actors widely seen as targeting Muslims will remain a decisive political and electoral issue.
Nigeria must not make itself a junior partner in a war against Islam on the continent. Such a course would fracture national cohesion, erode public trust, and undermine the moral authority of the state.
MPAC therefore calls on the Federal Government to:
- Immediately review and reassess the Nigeria–Israel Security Cooperation Agreement;
- Disclose fully the scope, intent, and operational consequences of the agreement to Nigerians;
– Ensure that no foreign security partnership compromises the safety, dignity, or rights of Muslim citizens;
- Commit to homegrown, transparent, and inclusive security solutions that reflect Nigeria’s plural character.
Nigeria’s unity is fragile and sacred. Any policy that endangers it- especially through reckless foreign entanglements – must be abandoned.
MPAC will continue to speak, advocate, and mobilise peacefully in defence of justice, national unity, and the protection of Muslims and all Nigerians from policies that threaten their lives and faith.
Disu Kamor
Executive Chairman
Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria
disu.kamor@mpac-ng.org
www.mpac-ng.org
