The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria, has expressed urgent concern over the alleged activities of an American national, Mr. Alex Barbir, also known as Eyal Yakoby, warning that his conduct in Plateau and Benue States poses a potential threat to Nigeria’s peace, sovereignty, and collective security.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, MPAC described the emerging reports surrounding the foreign national as “disturbing” and “dangerous,” alleging that Barbir, reportedly linked to Blackwater/Academi, a private military contractor, has been moving freely within Nigeria with armed police protection while allegedly making statements capable of inciting religious hostility.
According to the group, Barbir allegedly operated under the guise of humanitarian engagement with internally displaced persons, but instead engaged in what it described as “reckless and provocative rhetoric,” including claims that he incited Christians against Muslims and fueled anti-Fulani sentiments in already fragile communities. MPAC argued that such actions amount to a deliberate attempt to deepen divisions and ignite conflict.
The organization further referenced a reported sequence of events linking Barbir’s presence and speeches in Jos to violence in Rukuba, which resulted in loss of lives. While noting that the connection could be coincidental, MPAC said the implications were too serious to ignore, warning against what it described as a pattern in which “outsiders light the match and disappear, leaving communities to burn.”
MPAC also raised concerns over reports that the foreign national was accompanied by armed security escorts, questioning who authorized his movements and the basis for any law enforcement protection. The group warned that failure to provide transparency could create the perception of institutional tolerance or complicity, which it said could erode public trust and heighten tensions.
The organization called on relevant security and government institutions to take immediate action, urging the Department of State Services (DSS) to detain and investigate Barbir to determine his networks, affiliations, and mission in Nigeria.
It also demanded that the Nigeria Police Force publicly clarify any role played by its officers in providing escort or protection, and hold accountable any personnel found to be complicit.
MPAC further urged the Nigerian Immigration Service to review the circumstances surrounding his entry into the country and determine whether he violated the terms of his stay, while calling on the Office of the National Security Adviser to treat the matter as a national security priority and initiate a comprehensive assessment and containment strategy.
The group said that if found culpable, Barbir should face the full weight of Nigerian law, including prosecution, deportation, and permanent blacklisting.
MPAC stressed that no country should allow a foreign actor, allegedly accompanied by armed law enforcement officers, to engage in provocative or ideologically driven rhetoric without accountability. It warned that permitting such conduct would undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and national stability.
The organization also echoed what it described as growing public concern, stating that no foreign agent — whether operating under humanitarian, religious, or political cover — should be allowed to inflame tensions within the country.
It cautioned that failure to act swiftly could embolden similar actions by others, warning that silence may be interpreted as consent and inaction could carry consequences.
MPAC concluded by urging the Nigerian government and security institutions to demonstrate that any alleged inflammatory messaging by the foreign national does not have official endorsement, and to show readiness in defending Nigeria’s unity and stability.
“The time to act is now — firmly, lawfully, and without fear or favour,” the statement said
The press release was signed by Disu Kamor, Executive Chairman of the Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria.
