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.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 from PREMIUM TIMES requesting it confirm 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.
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