The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), on behalf of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and all citizens of conscience, issues this statement to express profound concern and outright condemnation of the recent diplomatic engagements between Nigeria and the State of Israel.
It was widely reported that the Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu-Odumegwu, hosted Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sharren Haskel Harpaz, in Abuja during the Nigeria–Israel round of political consultations on Monday, 11th August 2025.
The reports indicate that the meeting, while covering multiple sectors such as agriculture, ICT, renewable energy, and education, also included discussions on security cooperation, intelligence sharing, counter terrorism collaboration, and advanced security training.
The Council condemns in the strongest terms the very idea of Nigeria entertaining mutual security arrangements with Israel. Such an initiative represents a grave departure from Nigeria’s principled foreign policy, a dangerous compromise of our national integrity, and an affront to the conscience of the Nigerian people.
Israel is currently engaged in one of the most catastrophic military campaigns against humanity in modern times. Since October 2023, over 70,000 Palestinian innocent civilians, mostly women and children have been killed, and 160,000 wounded in Gaza.
The United Nations, the International Court of Justice, responsible nations and respected human rights organizations have all agreed that Israel’s actions constitute war crimes and bear the hallmarks of genocide.
To explore security cooperation with such a state while expressing concern for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is not diplomacy, it is a contradiction that risks rendering Nigeria’s voice on global justice hollow and hypocritical. Nigeria’s credibility and moral standing in the comity of nations are at stake.
Nigeria’s long-standing foreign policy has been one of justice, liberation, and non-alignment with oppressors. From our pivotal role in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa to our consistent solidarity with Palestine, our nation has earned respect as a defender of the oppressed.
Under the current administration, this proud tradition was reaffirmed 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.
Based on the above stands, the Council reiterates that to seek 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 stands 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.
Nafiu Baba-Ahmad, mni
Secretary General
