DIVIDE AND CONQUER: The US and Israel’s detrimental influence in Nigeria
By DISU KAMOR
This strategy, aimed at destabilizing governments and advancing regional interests, poses a significant threat to national unity and security worldwide. In Nigeria, the implications are particularly alarming, as the US has already demonstrated a willingness to rely on disinformation spread by groups like IPOB, a proscribed terrorist organization, to promote its mischievous Christian genocide agenda.
The recent revelations about the US and Israel arming ethnic separatist groups, such as Iranian Kurdish separatists, highlight a disturbing trend in international relations. This strategy, aimed at destabilizing governments and advancing regional interests, poses a significant threat to national unity and security worldwide. In Nigeria, the implications are particularly alarming, as the US has already demonstrated a willingness to rely on disinformation spread by groups like IPOB, a proscribed terrorist organization, to promote its mischievous Christian genocide agenda.
When United States and Israel arm separatists that are designated terrorist organizations, the strategy is a classic divide-and-conquer tactic, to weaken, destabilize, divide and conquer. By supporting and empowering groups with grievances against the central government, the US creates an environment of tension, instability and conflict. This approach not only undermines national unity but also provides a pretext for further intervention, allowing the US to exert influence and control.
In Syria, the US armed opposition groups, including Kurdish forces, to fight against Bashar al-Assad’s regime, leading to prolonged conflict and instability in the region. In Iraq, the US supported Kurdish groups and Sunni militias, known as the “Sons of Iraq” or “Awakening” movement, to combat the remnants of the Ba’ath Party, contributing to sectarian tensions. In Afghanistan, the US armed mujahideen groups, including those led by Jalaluddin Haqqani and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, to fight against the government, which later contributed to the rise of Al-Qaeda. In Nicaragua, the US supported the Contras, a rebel group, to overthrow the socialist Sandinista government, leading to a prolonged civil war. In Chile, the US-backed coup led by Augusto Pinochet overthrew the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende, resulting in a military dictatorship. In Indonesia, the US supported anti-government rebels and provided lists of alleged communist supporters, leading to widespread violence and human rights abuses.
Empowering groups like IPOB risks plunging Nigeria into civil war, devastating its people and destabilizing the West African region. Nigerians must recognize the danger posed by external interference and disinformation. The US’s tactic of hosting and promoting ethnic separatist groups, giving platforms to disgruntled diaspora Nigerians, preferring and using data provided by them, is a clear threat to national unity and security. It’s crucial that Nigerians unite against such divisive strategies, prioritizing the nation’s stability and sovereignty. To combat the scourge of collaborators who take turn to pass wrong information to foreign governments for political and partisan reasons, damaging the country and threatening its citizens, the government should criminalize the actions of such Nigerians, both at home and abroad, including those who call for military interventions in Nigeria’s internal affairs. This would help curb the menace of external manipulation and promote national cohesion. This is the practice in many countries around the world, including United States.
On his own part, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Micheal Freeman, a man representing a country of structural apartheid, which has laid waste to Gaza, made allegations against Iran and the Shia community in Nigeria, claiming they are engaged in international terrorism through “a global terrorism network”.
The Israeli ambassador’s statement is a clear case of external interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs, labeling protesters as terrorists with the sole aim of triggering fear, chaos and security concern. This is unacceptable, as Nigerian laws and authorities are equipped to handle issues of protests and any breakdown of law and order. The ambassador’s reckless labeling of protesters as terrorists is particularly concerning, given Israel’s history of occupation, human rights abuses and unrestrained violence in Palestine. It’s no surprise that Israel, in its own dictionary of occupation, views resistance as terrorism and calls protests international terrorism, but Nigeria’s government and people will not be swayed by such rhetorics. The Nigerian police have the constitutional role to prosecute offenders, not foreign embassies. The ambassador’s allegations exceed his diplomatic role and risk threatening Nigeria’s peace, stability, and security.
Nigeria’s government should exercise extreme caution when aligning with a nation like Israel, notorious for its unchecked aggression and currently facing war crime charges at The Hague. Consider this: if Israel and the United States can brazenly sneak into Iran, assassinate its Supreme Leader – a head of a UN member state – kill his family and aides, and launch airstrikes on an elementary school, killing 168 innocent school girls, isn’t that terrorism? The global Shia community has every right to voice outrage and protest. By tolerating baseless claims from Israel’s envoy, Nigeria risks greenlighting foreign interference in its internal affairs, undermining its sovereignty.
Rather than tolerating foreign interference, the Nigerian authorities must berate the Israeli embassy for attempting to import its geopolitics into the Nigerian street. The crimes of Israel and the United States will haunt them forever as many these two countries become more isolated in the world, and various groups around the world are showing their discontent for nations that seek domination and pillage nations’ resources through violence and intimidation.
On a related note, Israel’s actions in the Middle East have long been a subject of controversy and subjected to rounds of condemnation at the United Nations, with the majority of world’s nations accusing Israel of pursuing an expansionist agenda. The idea of a “Greater Israel” used to be considered a conspiracy theory only popular among crazy people on the Israeli far right- people like Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s Finance Minister. The Israeli Prime Minister has publicly expressed support for the concept, which involves annexing territories from neighboring countries, including Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq. This vision has been met with widespread condemnation from Arab and Islamic nations, who view it as a threat to regional security and peace, with devastating consequences for the rest of the world.
Israel’s actions have consistently undermined peace negotiations and ceasefires. Israel has targeted key figures involved in peace talks, such as Ahmed Jabari, a Hamas leader who was killed in 2012 while negotiating a permanent truce. On July 31, 2024, Israel killed Ismail Haniyah, a Hamas leader, in Tehran, further destabilizing the region. In 2025, Israel attempted to kill Ali Shamkhani, Iran’s main nuclear negotiator, after US President Donald Trump shared a Tweet to praise his position. Eventually, on February 28, 2026, on a second attempt, Israel killed Shamkhani in an airstrike on his house in Tehran.
Israel’s meddling in Nigeria’s internal affairs demands a strong reprimand by the Government, with its envoy fueling religious tensions and undermining national security. His outburst followed closly Netanyahu’s Christmas message framing Nigeria’s security challenges as religious persecution- a divisive narrative widely rejected by most Nigerians. Interestingly, he claimed he was championing protection of the Christians at a time that he was bombing historic churches in Palestine, together with the worshippers inside them. This blatant attempt to address a marginal element in Nigeria, bypassing the Nigerian political and faith leaders, exposes Israel’s true intentions: destabilization through manipulation. Nigeria’s government must recognize Israel’s history, its records on covert operations and disinformation, and reevaluate the relationship accordingly. The partnership offered on security issues should be scrutinized, as it may enable exploitation, infiltration and “divide and conquer” tactics. Security agencies should prioritize Nigeria’s sovereignty, cautious of Israel’s tactics and aware of its geopolitics and dominance ambitions. It’s time to see Israel for what it is: a threat to national security, not a friend. A nation pursuing an exploitative agenda, seeking to capitalize on Nigeria’s vulnerabilities.
The actions of Israel in the occupied territories, in the Middle East and on the African continent should weigh heavily on the conscience of Nigeria’s leaders. The presence of the Israeli ambassador in Nigeria should not become a threat to the country’s peaceful coexistence and security. As such, the government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, should exercise diplomatic oversight over the Israeli envoy and his actions and speeches in Nigeria, ensuring they do not inflame tensions or undermine national stability. Nigeria’s relations with foreign nations must be guided by mutual respect and a commitment to peace, not used as a conduit for external agendas. Ultimately, as Nigeria deals with its multi-dimensional security challenges, Nigeria’s stability depends on its ability to maintain a non-aligned stance, free from external control, external manipulation, intimidation and narratives that could destabilize the country. The government owes it to its citizens, particularly its Muslim population, to ensure national security policies prioritize unity and peace above all else.
Finally as the world watches, Nigeria must heed history’s lessons: nations that present a friendly face today may become a foe tomorrow, arming ethnic separatists to split the country along religious and ethnic lines. The US and Israel’s support for Kurdish separatists in Iran highlights a disturbing trend – one that could embolden groups like IPOB in Nigeria. The US strategy of arming ethnic separatist groups poses a significant threat to national unity and security, particularly in vulnerable countries like Nigeria. It is imperative that Nigeria and the international community take a principled stand against such divisive tactics and work towards promoting peace, stability, and unity. It is time for Nigeria to prioritize its national interests, safeguard sovereignty and watch out for foreign powers that use pretexts and promises to further their own agendas. The nation must stand united against all external threats.
Kamor, Executive Chairman, Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Lagos.
