Says ties with ICC-wanted Netanyahu a dangerous departure from Nigeria’s core foreign policy thrust
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), speaking on behalf of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and all citizens of conscience, has condemned the recent diplomatic engagements between Nigeria and the State of Israel.
The Council condemned the ties in a statement issued by the its Secretary-General, Sheikh Nafiu Baba-Ahmad, on Wednesday, August 20, a copy which was made available to Muslim News.
According to the Council, “the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu-Odumegwu, on Monday, 11th August 2025, hosted Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sharren Haskel Harpaz, in Abuja during the Nigeria–Israel round of political consultations.
“While the meeting reportedly touched on agriculture, ICT, renewable energy, and education, it also included discussions on “security cooperation, intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism collaboration, and advanced security training.”
The Shari’ah Council strongly condemned the idea of entertaining mutual security with Israel.
It noted that “such a move represents a dangerous departure from Nigeria’s principled foreign policy, a compromise of national integrity, and an affront to the collective conscience of our people.”
Israel is currently executing one of the most catastrophic military campaigns against humanity in modern times. Since October 2023, over 60,000 Palestinian civilians—mostly women and children—have been killed and more than 160,000 wounded in Gaza.
The United Nations, the International Court of Justice, and leading human rights organisations have all characterized Israel’s actions as “war crimes bearing the unmistakable marks of genocide.”
To pursue security cooperation with such a state, while publicly lamenting the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is not diplomacy but a contradiction that risks making Nigeria’s voice on global justice hollow and hypocritical, SCSN emphasised.
“Our credibility and moral standing in the comity of nations are at stake.
“Nigeria has historically pursued a foreign policy rooted in justice, liberation, and solidarity with the oppressed. From our frontline role in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa to our unwavering support for Palestine, our nation has long been respected as a defender of human dignity. This proud tradition was reaffirmed under the current administration—at the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh in 2023 by the President, and the Vice President’s powerful declaration of solidarity at the 78th United Nations General Assembly.
“In light of this heritage, seeking security cooperation from a state committing genocide is a perilous paradox. It undermines Nigeria’s values, erodes our credibility, and risks placing us on the wrong side of history.”
The Council said it is firmly with all Nigerians and the global community in demanding justice for Palestine.
“We urge the Federal Government to correct this diplomatic misstep, reaffirm Nigeria’s historic foreign policy of solidarity with the oppressed, and continue to project our nation as a beacon of justice and moral authority,” the statement said.
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