₦airaland Forum

Nduka Orjinmo - BBC News, Abuja
Mon, October 18, 2021, 5:05 AM·7 min read

Shlomo Ben Yaakov wants to become Nigeria's first rabbi
Rocking back and forth, Shlomo Ben Yaakov reads from a Torah scroll at a synagogue on the outskirts of Nigeria's capital, Abuja.

Intermittently his soft mellow voice rises in Hebrew and he is joined by the dozens who recite after him.

Most do not fully understand the language, but this small Nigerian community claims Jewish ancestry dating back hundreds of years - and they are left frustrated by a lack of recognition by Israel.

"I consider myself a Jew," says Mr Yaakov.

Outside the Gihon Hebrew Synagogue in the suburb of Jikwoyi a table is laid inside a tent built from palm leaves to celebrate Sukkot, a festival that commemorates the years Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land.

"Just as we are doing this now, they are doing same in Israel," says Mr Yaakov, as people share traditional cholla bread (baked at the synagogue) and wine from small cups being passed around.

He is an Igbo - one of Nigeria's three dominant ethnic groups which originates in the south-east of the country. His given Igbo name is Nnaemezuo Maduako.

Jewish women
Unlike their parents, most of Nigeria's young Jews have known no other religion
Many Igbos believe they have Jewish heritage as one of the so-called 10 lost tribes of Israel, though most are not practising Jews like Mr Yaakov. They comprise less than 0.1% of the estimated 35 million Igbos.

These tribes were said to have disappeared after being taken into captivity when the northern Israelite kingdom was conquered in the 8th Century BC - and the Ethiopian Jewish community, for example, is recognised as one of them.

Igbo customs such as male circumcision, mourning the dead for seven days, celebrating the new moon and conducting wedding ceremonies under a canopy have reinforced this belief about their Jewish heritage.

'No proof'
But Chidi Ugwu, an Igbo who is an anthropologist at the University of Nigeria in Enugu, says this identification with Judaism emerged only after the Biafran civil war.

The Igbos had been fighting for secession from Nigeria, but lost what was a brutal conflict between 1967-1970.

Group of armed Biafran soldiers seen during the Biafran conflict - 11 June 1968
Some say the belief that Igbos have Jewish heritage emerged after their defeat in the civil war in which more than one million died
Some people "were looking for some psychological boost to hang on to" so began to make the Jewish connection, he says.

They saw themselves as persecuted people, much as Jewish people have been through history, especially during the Holocaust.

"It is insulting to call the Igbos the lost tribe of anybody, there is no historical or archaeological evidence to back that up," he told the BBC.

He argues that as evidence suggests the Igbos were among those who migrated out of Egypt several thousand years ago, it may be that Jews picked up Igbo customs when they went there.

Several years ago controversial efforts were made to prove a genetic lineage, but a DNA test found no Jewish connection.

Rabbi Eliezer Simcha Weisz, chairman of the foreign affairs department of the Rabbinate Council of Israel - the body that determines claims of Jewish ancestry, is also in no doubt.

"They claim to be one of the descendants of Gad, one of the sons of our forefather Jacob - but they can't prove their grandparents were Jewish," he told the BBC.

"And the customs they speak of, you can find people all over the world who have Jewish practices."

He said unless the Nigerian Jews converted to Judaism - a process that entails various rituals and appearing before a Jewish court (which is unavailable in Nigeria) - they would not be recognised.

Mr Yaakov regards the idea of having to go through a conversion as an insult.

"As a convert we would be seen as second-class citizens," he says.

Secessionist surge

The congregants at Gihon take their beliefs seriously - and they and Nigeria's estimated 12,000-strong community of practising Jews - are supported by some other Orthodox Jewish groups around the world, which donate to them, make solidarity visits and campaign for their recognition.

One prominent supporter is Dani Limor, a former Mossad agent who once ran an operation to secretly take Ethiopian Jews to Israel via Sudan. He has been visiting the Jewish communities in Nigeria since the 1980s and argues that Jewish practice in the West African nation predates the civil war.

An estimated 12,000 Nigerians consider themselves to be Jewish
He believes in a school of thought that says they came from Morocco 500 years ago, first settling in Timbuktu before travelling further south - and he hopes they will eventually get the recognition they deserve.

"Judaism goes beyond the colour of the skin, it is in the heart," he told the BBC.

Gihon synagogue, said to be the oldest in Nigeria, was founded in the 1980s by Ovadai Avichai and two others who had been raised as Christians.

The friends decided to turn to Judaism when they realised the Bible's Old Testament was the foundation of the Jewish religion.

He said it was like the Jew in him had been rekindled - and given the similarities between Jewish customs and Igbo traditions he was convinced that Judaism was the true path.

Many Nigerian Jews see Nnamdi Kanu's Judaism as politically calculated to win sympathy abroad for his separatist cause
Abuja's Gihon synagogue now has a mixture of different ethnic groups among the more than 40 families who attend.

In the last few years the number of those worshipping as Jews in southern Nigeria has increased sharply, says the BBC's Chiagozie Nwonwu, an expert on the region.

This is largely thanks to the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), a group which restarted the Igbo campaign for secession in 2014.

It is led by Nnamdi Kanu, who has reminded his followers of their alleged Jewish heritage and encouraged them to embrace the faith. The charismatic leader was once purportedly pictured praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

"The first time Ipob emerged, I cried at the synagogue"", Source: Ovadai Avichai, Source description: Gihon Hebrew Synagogue founder, Image: Ovadai Avichai
"The first time Ipob emerged, I cried at the synagogue"", Source: Ovadai Avichai, Source description: Gihon Hebrew Synagogue founder, Image: Ovadai Avichai
But his followers are not regarded as authentic Jews by Nigeria's more established communities as some combine elements of Judaism and Christianity in their worship most associated with Messianic Judaism.

Mr Kanu is now in detention facing trial for treason and Ipob, which has recently taken up arms, has been banned as a terrorist group.

"The first time Ipob emerged, I cried at the synagogue. I said: 'This young boy has come to cause problems for us because what he's doing is unnecessary,'" says Mr Avichai, a Biafra war veteran.

He fears the activities of Ipob threaten the peaceful worship of the 70 or so apolitical Jewish communities.

This happened earlier this year when a Jewish community leader in the south-east was jailed for a month after her congregation received three visitors from Israel.

They had come to film the donation of a Torah scroll - often too expensive for local groups to purchase - but were suspected of having connections to Ipob and deported.

One worshipper at Gihon told me Mr Kanu had influenced his decision to join the synagogue - but the recent evolution of Ipob's campaign into an armed struggle went against the tenets of Judaism.

Mr Yaakov is not interested in the politics around being Jewish - for him it is the spiritual aspect that is important.

Official recognition by Israel of the fraction of Igbos like him as Jews would help the religious community become more organised in Nigeria. For example, at the moment there is no chief rabbi and finding kosher products can be a challenge. They are usually only sold in a few shops owned by Jewish expats - the community generally eats what is produced locally so they can follow Kosher rules.

Mr Yaakov would love to train to become the first Nigerian rabbi, something that can only be done by studying at a rabbinical school or under an experienced rabbi.

"For those of us who know our roots, we are confident of our identity," he says.

"If the Christians and Muslims can accept their own and support them, then I think the Jews should also show some encouragement.

Draslo:
Yadda! Yadda! Yadda! Your boss is an asshole. Period!


I used to be a grammar Nazi too until I realized how stupid I was. Americans make a shitload of grammatical errors and nobody bashes them for it. I'm sure if the intern was an American, your boss would have overlooked it.

I used to listen to Wayne Rooney speak to the press after matches, and sometimes I was shocked that a pure English guy can make basic grammatical errors like he did. I am not excusing poor written English though, however I don't feel this mistake was too much, especially for an intern who is supposed to be taught and nutured in a work environment.

Based on the news, the NCAA was patient enough with glo. They should pay up the necessary fees, after all they are doing business. Their non chalant attitude towards the bills has automatically eroded my sympathy for them

Matheusmartin:
..
Arrow can only kill one person at a time.

How did the man manage to kill several and injure many others?

Nor really understand

Are you sure is a local bow and arrow? I think there are modern ones capable of shooting many arrows

This man is not sincere at all. Is there even a functional house of assembly to pass the law? To even name your cabinet is war. What exactly is wrong with this people

Not calling back to decline the position was the problem, not you declining it. I feel it is the right thing to give feedbacks both from candidates and HR officers. It is quite unfortunate that you will attend an interview and everything become quiet. No feedback from HR, and see them now, they cannot even take the non feedback from you in good fate.

dailystar.co.ukOct 13, 2021 11:27 AM

Chief Rafael Vázquez, who has been an officer for 19 years in Tijuana, Mexico, reportedly received a severed head and threat message from a powerful drug cartel on his first day on the job
The gruesome head was found decomposing inside a black bag left in the street with a message for Chief Rafael Vázquez
The gruesome head was found decomposing inside a black bag left in the street with a message for Chief Rafael Vázquez
A new police chief was left horrified on his first day on the job when he received a package containing a severed head and death threat from a drug cartel.



The gruesome head was found decomposing inside a black bag left in the street with a message.

Chief Rafael Vázquez, who has been an officer for 19 years, was accused of being a "kidnapper who takes orders from the Sinaloa Cartel" in the note.

"Tijuana will bleed because of that kidnapper," the message threatened.



In further scary developments, two more messages were found around the city the following night, but this time was thankfully accompanied by some sort of animal meat.

In further scary developments, two more messages were found around the city the following night
In further scary developments, two more messages were found around the city the following night
Tijuana, in Mexico, is ranked one of the top ten most violent cities in the world, with most of the bloodshed coming from clashes with rival drug cartels battling for the city, VICE reports.

Mexican news reports say that the messages and severed head come from a known rival of the Sinaloa Cartel, previously led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán until he was sentenced to life in prison on drug trafficking charges and extradited to the US.

The mayor of Tijuana, Monserrat Caballero has spoken publicly on the threats and shown support for the police chief.

Tijuana, in Mexico, is ranked one of the top ten most violent cities in the world
Tijuana, in Mexico, is ranked one of the top ten most violent cities in the world

"If there are threats, then it’s about his work, and for me, that is an indication that the crooks are afraid," she said in a press conference.

This is not the first time Vázquez has been wrapped in controversy.

A banner was hung from a bridge in 2017 that accused him and a fellow police officer of "collaborating with the Sinaloa Cartel, for whom they clear a path and are also dedicated to extortion, theft and abuse of authority."



He was also more recently accused of selling positions within his police force and has been accused of torture and theft.

But the chief has never been charged with a crime.

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Suspicions around Vázquez are to be expected, as Mexico is known to have a long history of high-ranking authorities becoming corrupted by powerful cartels.

In December 2019, Mexico's minister of public security from 2006 to 2012, Genaro Garcia Luna, was indicted on charges of drug trafficking conspiracy and making false statements.

Luna took "millions of dollars in bribes from 'El Chapo' Guzman’s Sinaloa Cartel while he controlled Mexico’s Federal Police Force and was responsible for ensuring public safety in Mexico,” the indictment claimed.

The former minister denies all claims and is awaiting trial in New York.

https://news.yahoo.com/marine-blasted-military-leaders-over-014300685.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

Marine officer who posted a video criticizing military leaders over the chaotic pullout of U.S. forces from Afghanistan will plead guilty to charges but will argue for favorable discharge, according to one of his lawyers.

Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller is set to appear for a court-martial hearing on Thursday and faces charges, including disrespecting commissioned officers, disobeying a superior commissioned officer, and dereliction of duties.


His lawyer, Tim Parlatore, told the Washington Post on Tuesday they hope for a general or honorable discharge rather than dishonorable discharge. Scheller also wants to avoid jail time.

HEARING SET FOR MARINE COURT-MARTIALED FOR SPEAKING OUT ON AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL

“Our hope is for him to get a letter of reprimand, and no more,” Parlatore said.


In addition, the lawyer said the exact details of a pretrial agreement are “still up in the air.”

In August, Scheller posted a video in uniform demanding accountability from military higher-ups after an explosion at Kabul's airport killed 13 U.S. service members and roughly 170 Afghans.

After Scheller posted the video, he was removed from his role as commander of the Advanced Infantry Training Battalion at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. His hearing will take place at Camp Lejeune. He was in confinement until being released earlier this month following outcry from Republican lawmakers.

careytommy37:

So e done reach where court go dey tell us when to Bury person?

Yes, if you relative die and you want the court to decide, you will take the matter to the court and the court will decide. If you don't want the court to decide, then you will go and bury the dead as you decide

Yeah, from #43 to #45 per kw

AntiBMC:
The so-called president should sack himself and his cabal first. They are all completely clueless.

Sadly the performance of the president is tied to the performance of the ministers. If they perform, the president perform, if they don't he doesn't too. So it is his job to ensure they perform or get the sack. Unfortunately, the sack appraisal is coming late.

BeeBeeOoh:



Buhari once told us some time ago that subsidy is a scam, now, that same Buhari is into that same scam.


No be juju be that?

Yes, it is always easy to stand afar and criticize, just like we are criticizing now. Let one be there and one will know how far.

Mossadd:
I wonder why people are dragging only Peter obi whereas Atiku bagudu and oyetola were also mentioned in Pandora case but nobody create any thread to drag them,na so you dey fear obi reach?since you got no corruption case to tarnish his good image you have resulted to creating thread upon thread every blesses day to ridiculing him as if he is the only Nigerian mentioned there.

I don't think anybody is dragging him, he chooses to defend himself and he is talking, that is why you are reading his news here and elsewhere always. The other persons you mentioned are not talking, so what will the journalists write? They can't keep writing repeatedly that their names were mentioned in Pandora. Trust me, if Bagudu speak today, we will have it here on nairaland

anorexicmuster:
We have no choice

The more we spend on subsidising fuel, the more we prevent the investment in more refinereis plus we put new refineries like Dangote refinery at risk of failing by forcing them to operate at a loss a la subsidy

If we had removed this thing in 2012 by now the worst would have been over

Nigeria can no longer afford subsidy. It has to go.


P.S. Any objectors to this post should read about subsides and why they damage economies.

You are right, I support subsidy removal too. The only issue again is the massive corruption, I will be surprised if the monies gain from subsidy removal will be used properly. It is mostly going to end up in private individuals pocket. But in any case, let them remove it, after all we are already suffering without the removal

You can hardly see a female moniker commenting here, very strange.

This is greed at its peak, this lady was settled in the tone of thousands of pounds, couldn't she use the money to better her life? She came back looking for 18m pounds x 3. What sort of nonsense is that? Does she think she has an oil well or what? Nonsense

humility33:
Let the efcc or CCT handle the matters

All pandora stated was mere allegations that have not been confirmed by efcc yet let them investigate

Obi himself said he didnt break any law

Will advise any anti obi group to petition the EFCC

I agree that the CCT and EFCC can come in, however, watch how witch hunting will be shouted to high heavens when that is done. Look at this thread are see the number of people insinuating that already. Mind you, this has nothing to do with Nigerian government yet o, it is Pandora, an international body that exposed not only obi but politicians world wide, just imagine when CCT get involved

humility33:
Did u use the state money to acquire thoss properties oga

What is it with trying to defend what is wrong by all means? Haba, premium times stated clearly that they did not accuse obi of public funds diversion, Obi was the one who offered that rebuttal to divert from the crux of the matter. Obi did not in any way denied the allegations or indictment by Pandora, he instead claimed ignorance, albeit in a feeble manner. Did he breach tax laws? Did he breach code of conduct for public office holders by being a director of private company and holding a foreign account? Kindly focus on these and stop defending wrong simply because of tribalism or whatsoever.

DubaiLandLord2:
He should have known better.

He shouldn't have made that video.

He will surely retire as a Lt. Colonel

Yes, it is always an issue in the military when you come out in that manner anywhere in the world. Many Nigerians were lambasting our military when such issues came up in the past, forgetting to understand that, the military has its code of conduct and they are strict about it

Marine who spoke out against Afghanistan withdrawal no longer in the brigade
Mike Brest-yahoo.com
Tue, October 5, 2021, 7:35 PM

The military officer facing legal consequences for speaking out against Department of Defense leaders is no longer in the brig.

Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller Jr., whose criticism of the Afghanistan withdrawal received attention nationwide, had been in pretrial confinement in the Regional Brig for Marine Corps Installations East at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, but both sides agreed to a release, according to Capt. Sam Stephenson, a Training and Education Command spokesman.

"Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller Jr. is being released from confinement today, Oct. 5, 2021, as a result of a mutual agreement between Lt. Col. Scheller, his Defense counsel, and the Commanding General, Training Command," said Stephenson in a statement to the Washington Examiner.

"No additional details regarding the agreement may be released at this time," he added.

Scheller gained notoriety last month when he posted a video on social media calling for accountability from military leaders for the way the Afghanistan withdrawal occurred, and he specifically referenced the ISIS-K terrorist attack that killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 170 Afghan nationals. He posted subsequent videos detailing the consequences of the video and informing viewers of the fallout of his initial post.

He has not been charged, though there are four specific charges that will be considered during his hearing — Article 88: contempt toward officials; Article 90: willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer; Article 92: failure to obey lawful general orders; and Article 133: conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman, according to a Marine Corps spokesperson.

A number of conservatives have thrown their support behind Scheller, including more than two dozen GOP lawmakers who sent a letter calling for his release from confinement, because he was critical of the Biden administration's Afghanistan withdrawal execution, though he has criticized members of both political parties, including former President Donald Trump.

"President Trump. I was told by everyone to kiss the ring because of your following and power," he said in a Facebook post last Saturday. "I refuse. While I respect your foreign policy positions, I hate how you divided the country. I don’t need or want your help. You do not have the ability to pull US together."

The Pipe Hitter Foundation, an organization created by Eddie Gallagher, the Navy SEAL pardoned by President Trump after being convicted of a war crime, has raised more than $2.5 million on Scheller's behalf.

Original Location: Marine who spoke out against Afghanistan withdrawal no longer in the brig

Sanchez01:
The baby is aging rapidly. Progeria or Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome. It's an extremely rare disease.

Online doctor, in any case the real doctors did correct diagnosis through tests and it is not progeria as you are presenting it. If the baby was to be treated by you, that is if at all you are a doctor, she would have died since because of wrong diagnosis, simply because you know one name called progeria.

ahnie:
Sick psycho.
This is a functioning country, meanwhile if it were to be in Nigeria the police would not do anything at all to fish out the perpetrators of there crime.

Simply put...who don't die,don die go be that.

But many police officers who committed crimes and are caught are standing trial, some convicted and on death sentence. One was dismissed and is already standing trial for rape in this very week. So here too, criminal police officers stand trial for crimes.

Damidave1124:
My team is fast becoming the shadow of itself.
How are the mighty falling

I'm not expecting anything from Barcelona this season, what I want is for the board to sack that useless Koeman

Only if they have money to fire and pay him, then, hire and pay new coach. They still owe the last two managers they sacked

Are all of you not fed up talking Messi Ronaldo?

CondemnBattery:
What sort of fuckery is that?
Are these people not trained?
Why always striking innocent civilians

On as much as we tend to criticize our military and yes they are not that advance, however, this sort of thing is not unheard of in such a war zone. As advanced as the USA military is, such has happened to many innocent people on numerous occasions. Is quite unfortunate that they died

adonainana:
Which car have you seen was manufactured in a certain year and was not sold until 4 years later and was left deliberately in Toyota show room or Honda show room

Or who have you seen would buy a brand new car today and leave it untouched for 4 years before driving it.

All the tokunbo nonsense coming into Nigeria is not any thing 3 months used or 4 months used junk car agents in nigeria are going around about.

A car made in 2013 would have had more than 1 if not 3 or 4 owners and it has been driven for years and years, the only saving grace is the roads where it was driven which are developed countries roads so when you see it after 10 years it looks like a human being drove it.

This does not mean when the 2013 car gets to Nigeria it is costing the price the brand new one didnt even cosst 10 years ago in dollars when it came out.

Omo the math is not adding up

okay, cars don't spend long periods on shelf as I thought then.

adonainana:
it depends on the extent of the accidental damage and the expertise of the automobile panel technician that worked on the body.

In real sense the factory body material is not so much different from what local panel beaters use, but remember in the factory, the body of a car is built in a mechanised fashion, and in built like a skeleton, so its easier to build a house from scratch than to patch it when it has been bulldozed.

So technically nothing wrong with an accident car, so far it has been repaired and fixed properly

But trust Nigerians, First body this First body that,

a used Toyota Camry car that was produced in 2013 , almost 10 years ago now almost sells for almost $10,0000 dollars (5,500,000 million naira )

Imagine a used car costs 5.5 million naira, and the used car is 10 years old

Are you telling me for the last 10 years, the owners who have used it parked it in the garage and were babysitting it like a baby for 10 years before it found itsway to Nigeria and be sold like brand new again

Kai

But I want to ask, if a car was manufactured in 2013 but not sold till someone bought it in 2017 used and sold it, will what you said above apply? Cos technically the car is 10 years old but it actually use is like 4 years

Perfectbeing:
Only dismiss? Imagine if the US police only dismissed the cop killer of Michael Brown

A member of the deceased’s family told FIJ that the accused would appear before the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, on Friday, to stand trial for the murder.

tolaswim:
Only dismiss ke...The mumu should be in jail na

A member of the deceased’s family told FIJ that the accused would appear before the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, on Friday, to stand trial for the murder.

Myhusband:
Endsars is yet to teach those idiots lesson, both them and EFCC will be given the language they really understand


how can a police kill innocent soul unjustly and his only punishment is dismissed? why won't another useless officers do it more



family members of that girl should treat the idiot fúck up

A member of the deceased’s family told FIJ that the accused would appear before the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, on Friday, to stand trial for the murder.

Abeos:
What about charging for killing the girl also, hope it's not ending up at dismissal only

A member of the deceased’s family told FIJ that the accused would appear before the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, on Friday, to stand trial for the murder.

miteolu:
Dismissed not enough

A member of the deceased’s family told FIJ that the accused would appear before the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, on Friday, to stand trial for the murder.

Naijanascam:
Only sack?..... and will be
detained and compansate the bereaved family?

please, you people should learn to read to conclusion and understand. It is a bit worrisome when comments like this surface at the end of a news article.

Read the last paragraph again. The family said the dismissed officer will appear at Yaba magistrate court to stand trial for murder.

Normally, the magistrate will remand him, while sending the file to DPP for advice, from there he will be trialed in high court for his crime.

Kudos to the police on this.