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.
