Israel claim linking Nigerian terrorism to Iran is “kettle calling pot black” – MURIC
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
“To Michael Freeman, the Israeli Ambassador, we have this to say, ‘Keep your tales by moonlight to the fairy angels in Tel Aviv and Washington. 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.”
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has strongly rejected allegations by Michael Freeman, Israel’s ambassador to Nigeria, that Iran is behind terrorism in the country.
In a statement released on Monday, March 9, 2026, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described the allegation as baseless and accused the Israeli envoy of making unfounded claims.
Freeman had reportedly stated on Friday, March 6, 2026, that Iran was responsible for supporting terrorist activities in Nigeria.
Reacting to the allegation, MURIC dismissed the claim and criticized the ambassador for what it described as an attempt to mislead the public.
The group warned the ambassador to keep his tales by moonlight to the fairy angels in Tel Aviv and Washington.
In the statement titled, “TERRORISM LIE AGAINST IRAN: ISRAEL’S AMBASSADOR IS SOMNAMBULATING” and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER, Akintola said the group “rejects the allegation totally, completely and categorically,” describing it as “baseless, audacious and fallacious.”
The MURIC leader also accused Israel of lacking the moral authority to accuse other nations of terrorism, citing the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip and the high number of Palestinian casualties since October 2023.
He further referenced the arrest warrants reportedly issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza war.
According to MURIC, the allegations against Iran are part of a broader attempt to divert attention from Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The rights group urged the Israeli envoy to refrain from making what it described as unsubstantiated claims and warned that Nigerians would not be misled by such accusations.
”Israel’s ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, on Friday, 6th March, 2026 accused Iran of being behind terrorism in Nigeria (https://www-vanguardngr-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2026/03/iran-behind-terrorism-in-nigeria/amp/).
”We reject Israel’s allegation totally, completely and categorically. This allegation is baseless, audacious and fallacious. Israel’s ambassador to Nigeria must have been somnambulating at the time he made the allegation.
”This is kettle calling pot black. Now we know sleep-walkers do not see clearly. Who is the terrorist between Israel and Iran? Who is the champion of state terrorism in the whole world? Who surrounded Gaza, denying the legitimate citizens food and water? Who has been engaging in targeted killing of Palestinian activists? Who assassinated Hamas leaders assembled for peaceful negotiations?
”Israelis have no moral right to accuse any nation of terrorism. The whole world knows that aggression is in Israel’s DNA and terrorism is a state dogma. Israel flaunts state assassinations and revels in seas of blood. Arrogance, impunity and international criminality are the values and norms that Israel promotes.
“As at March 6th, 2026, at least 75,227 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the 7th October invasion. Who killed them? 21,283 of these are children. More than 25,000 are women! 248 journalists are among those killed. 120 are university lecturers. Just a few days ago, Israel killed 165 girls in an Iranian school. What do we call that? Is it not a war crime?
”Lest the ambassador forgets, the November 21, 2024 warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza is still valid. The charges include using starvation as a weapon of war, murder and persecution. What else can we call state terrorism?
”To Michael Freeman, the Israeli Ambassador, we have this to say, ‘Keep your tales by moonlight to the fairy angels in Tel Aviv and Washington. 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.”
The Israeli embassy in Nigeria had not publicly responded to MURIC’s statement at the time of reporting.
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