From Noah Ebije, Kaduna & Jude Owuamanam, Jos
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has commended the Federal Government for entering into a security pact with the State of Israel, describing the move as a bold step forward. It said history would remember it as one of the turning points in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
This is coming as Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association (ACIPA) expressed worries over growing insecurity in the country and the inability of the defence chiefs to stop it.
On August 12, 2025 in Abuja, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Israel’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Sharren Haskel-Harpaz signed the security agreement,
While commending the pact, MBF spokesman, Luka Binniyat, in a statement yesterday described it as “both timely and necessary,” noting that it would bring relief to Nigeria’s long struggle against terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes that have destabilised the country for over a decade.
“This agreement is historic and strategic. It represents a new phase in Nigeria’s long struggle against terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes that have destabilised our country for over a decade and a half. The MBF, speaking for the ethnic nationalities spread across 14 states of the Middle Belt and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), declares its total and unreserved support for this sovereign initiative.
“It is against this backdrop that the MBF views the Nigeria-Israel security pact as both timely and necessary. Israel has decades of experience in counter-terrorism and advanced technology in intelligence gathering, drone surveillance, and rapid-response mechanisms. These are precisely the tools Nigeria needs to win this war.
But in a condolence message to the Malumfashi community in Katsina State following the massacre of 50 worshippers in a mosque ACIPA’s Chairman, Rev. Luke Shehu, stated: “For the records, the Sultan of Sokoto is the grand patron of the Fulani, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle are all Fulani.
“While the Sultan is a retired military officer, the two ministers are immediate former governors. The national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu is also Fulani. This speaks volumes and raises unanswered questions with obvious answers.”