New Report Links Jeffrey Epstein, Ex-Israeli PM to Nigerian Boko Haram Security Deals

New findings have linked the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to business activities connected to Nigeria’s long-running Boko Haram insurgency.

According to the report, both men explored opportunities in Nigeria’s security and infrastructure sectors while the country grappled with violent attacks from the extremist group. Epstein reportedly acted as a middleman in discussions involving Nigerian and foreign business figures, focusing on stalled port and shipping projects in Lagos and Badagry.

Sources indicate that a key condition during these talks was full control of port operations before major investments could proceed. This demand delayed progress and drew scrutiny when Epstein’s involvement became public.

The report further details that Epstein maintained regular communication with Barak, with their discussions centering on expanding security cooperation between Israel and Nigeria. Following his departure from office in 2013, Barak is said to have leveraged these connections to advance Israeli-linked technology and energy ventures in Nigeria.

Epstein also showed interest in Nigeria’s financial and digital systems, tracking developments in biometric identification and electronic payments. In one instance, an associate wrote to him: “We should think about the growing emerging role of cards and phones in economic exchange and the future of money,” in reference to Nigeria’s digital ID programs.

In 2015, Barak and partners invested heavily in a biometric security firm. Originally designed for border control in the Middle East, the technology was later promoted in Nigeria as a counter-terrorism tool against Boko Haram. It was implemented in private institutions, including a Nigerian university, and marketed to African governments as a population monitoring and security solution.

Analysts cited in the report noted that Nigeria’s insecurity created opportunities for foreign security firms to expand their influence, effectively turning conflict conditions into business ventures under the guise of counter-terrorism cooperation.

The findings also highlight international support for Nigeria’s cyber and security infrastructure. In 2020, the World Bank backed partnerships involving Israeli cyber firms aimed at strengthening the country’s national cybersecurity framework.

While officials framed these initiatives as security assistance, the revelations raise questions about how foreign actors may financially benefit from instability in Nigeria.