His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Office of the President, Aso Rock, Abuja
Copied:
The National Assembly of Nigeria
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Defence
Executive Secretary, Nigerian Human Rights Commission
Chairperson, African Union Commission
United Nations Human Rights Council
Subject: Demand to Terminate All Military and Commercial Agreements with Israel Amid Ongoing War Crimes in Palestine :
1. Nigeria’s Historic Stance Against Apartheid and Oppression;
Nigeria has a proud legacy of standing against apartheid, colonialism, and genocide. From our leadership in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa to our consistent condemnation of Israel’s occupation of Palestine, our nation has always championed justice and human rights.
It is therefore gravely concerning that the Nigerian government is deepening **military cooperation with Israel**, including joint operations, intelligence sharing, and defence industry collaboration. This collaboration directly contradicts our moral principles, especially as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and United Nations have repeatedly condemned Israel’s documented war crimes, genocide, and apartheid policies against Palestinians.
2. Israel’s Documented War Crimes and Nigeria’s Complicity
- Over 60,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since October 2023, including thousands of children.
- Deliberate starvation tactics, systematic destruction of hospitals, and forced displacement—acts classified as genocide by UN experts.
- South Africa’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel, supported by extensive evidence of war crimes.
Alarmingly, Nigeria continues to supply crude oil to Israel, indirectly fueling its military operations. Reports confirm that 9% of Israel’s crude oil imports originate from Nigeria, making our nation complicit in these atrocities.
3. Unacceptable Military Collaboration;
The Nigerian Ministry of Defence is actively pursuing:
- Joint military training programs,
- Defence industry partnerships (including potential arms procurement),
- Intelligence-sharing agreements with a regime accused of crimes against humanity.
Nigeria must not align itself with a government facing credible accusations of genocide.
4. Contradiction of Nigeria’s Moral Position;
Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima rightly declared at the United Nations:
> *"Justice is antithetical to revenge… Freedom is an inalienable right and cannot be denied to any person. The Palestinian people deserve their independence."*
Yet while condemning Israel’s atrocities, our government simultaneously engages in military and economic deals with the same regime. This hypocrisy undermines Nigeria’s credibility.
*5. Demands for Immediate Action**
We demand the Nigerian government:
1. Terminate all military and intelligence agreements with Israel immediately.
2. Ban crude oil exports to Israel to end complicity in genocide.
3. Recall Nigeria’s ambassador to Israel and expel the Israeli ambassador from Abuja.
4. Publicly endorse South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel and advocate for international sanctions.
5. Redirect defence partnerships to nations respecting international law.
Conclusion: A Call to Uphold Nigeria’s Legacy
Nigeria cannot champion African liberation while enabling a regime accused of genocide. We urge President Tinubu to halt all military and commercial dealings with Israel and reaffirm our nation’s commitment to justice, human rights, and anti-colonial solidarity.
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Signed,
Abdulkarim Suleiman Dambazau
& Concerned Citizens of Nigeria.
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