The
diplomatic spat is not the first between Nigerian and Iran. The Iranian
government has dismissed allegations it was behind an emergent
terrorist cell in Nigeria, targeting American and Israeli interests,
saying the claim was sponsored by Israel and the US, its ark enemies, to
incite anger against Iran.
A
statement from the Iranian embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, said on Friday,
the allegation by Nigeria’s secret police was an attempt at
"Iranophobia", sponsored by the U.S. and Israel. "Due to the situation
and position of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the embassy said, "some
powerful and domineering states by resorting to the illegitimate means
and by organising and supporting terrorism and delinquent groups, have
attempted to work out and implement the Iranophobia project in countries
which enjoy good capacity in terms of cooperation with Iran," Iran
"strongly rejected" the claims, the statement said.
The
State Security Services, SSS, said on Wednesday it arrested a Nigerian,
Abdullahi Mustapha Berende, who was reportedly trained by Iranian
militants belonging to international terrorist groups, to set up cells
in Lagos and target American and Israeli interests. Mr. Berende said he
underwent trainings in 2006 and later in 2011, and received funding to
start business as a cover for his operations in Lagos. Besides hotels
frequented by Americans and Israelis in Lagos, the U.S. aid
organization, USAID, organisations such as Max, Zim international
shipping company, A. A. consulting, Peace corp. and the Jewish cultural
centre, Chabad at Ikoyi, were all targeted in the attack.
"Lagos
was preferred because his handlers believed that the Israelis have an
intelligence facility there that is used in spying on Iran,"
spokesperson for the service, Marilyn Ogar said on Wednesday at a news
conference. Mr. Berende was arrested alongside two other suspects, and
are to be charged to court soon, the service said. But Iranian embassy
in Abuja did not respond to specific questions such as whether Mr.
Berende ever got a visa to travel to Iran from the Embassy, and whether
the embassy shared information with the SSS during the investigation.
Iran’s first reaction to the allegation came on Friday with its Deputy
Foreign Minister, Hussein Amir-Abdollahian, quoted by Iranian state
television as saying the allegations were "made up as the result of the
ill will of the enemies of the two countries’ good relations".
"Iran
and Nigeria have friendly and close relations and despite the vast
efforts of the two countries’ enemies in recent years, relations and
cooperation’s have always improved," Mr. Amir-Abdllahian said. In the
statement from the embassy, Iran said it considered Nigeria an
"important and effective" country that deserved her cooperation and
expansion of interest. "The Islamic Republic of Iran firmly believes
that the federal government of Nigeria through wise and foresighted
approach and with the support of the people can identify the roots of
unrest and terrorism in the country and eliminate them and the
government of the Islamic Republic of Iran will spare no efforts to
assists and accompany Nigeria," it said.
The
statement added that with "good office and wise approach" such
allegations will no longer arise to the dismay of the enemies of Iran,
an apparent reference to the US and Israel. The diplomatic spat is not
the first between Nigerian and Iran. In 2004, Israeli sources said an
Iranian diplomat was arrested on suspicion of spying on the Israeli
embassy in Nigeria’s capital Abuja. Tehran denied any arrest. In 2010,
authorities at a Lagos port found a hidden shipment of rockets, rifle
rounds and other weapons from Iran, supposedly bound for Gambia. A
Nigerian and an Iranian face criminal charges over the shipment.
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