By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

A US-based Rabbi of Apostolic Jews has given an insight into how the Igbos who he described as descendants of Israel migrated to Africa and settled in Southeast Nigeria.

Reeling out the details of his research in an interview with News Express, , Rabbi Yannum Chinedu Nwabunwanne, said that time has come for the Igbos to liberate themselves from Secular Judiciary by establishing Talmudic Customary Courts as Descendants of Israel.

Responding to question on how the Igbos, as descendants of Israel, migrated to Southeast Nigeria and the names of the tribes that first migrated to Nigeria and where they first settled, Rabbi Yannum Nwabunwanne said: “There are two parts to fully answer your questions. Let me begin with the second part. The names of the congregation of Judah are as follows: Asher, Gad, Naphtali, Dan, Zebulon and Judah.

“The tribe of Dan were the first set of Ibos that entered Nigeria. They were sacked from Kaybar in Saudi Arabia by Prophet Mohammed between 626-629 AD.

“Danites occupies Ebonyi north and central senatorial zones. Also, they are in parts of Ebonyi South, parts of Enugu State and Benue State.

“The second set of Israelites that entered Southeast Nigeria were the following: Asher, Gad and Naphtali. They were sacked by Syria from 744-750 AD. The tribe of Asher or Ani-Asher (which means I am Asher) are the Ibos on coastal east of River Niger called Delta Ibo and coastal towns west of River Niger from Onitsha, Ogbaru, etc, in Anambra, through Oguta, and Imo to Ndoni and surrounding areas of Rivers State. The exceptions are Umu-INRI towns like Ogwuachi, Igbuzo, Akwukwu-Igbo, Okpanam, etc.

“In Anioma zone, the tribe of Gad comprises the upper parts of Anambra East senatorial zone, Anambra Central, Enugu East and West senatorial zones, and some enclaves in Anambra North senatorial zones.

“The tribe of Naphtali occupied the lower parts of Anambra South senatorial zone, Imo State except Asher along the coast and the Oratta/Owerri peoples of Old Owerri zone and surrounding communities.

According to him, the third group of Israelites that entered Southeast Nigeria were the members of the tribe of Judah, sacked by King Juan II of Portugal to Sao Tome Island between 1481-1495 AD.

Rabbi Yanum who is also an American-trained forensic investigator, revealed that King Juan II entered into a binding contract with the royal house of Judah and the priestly house of Levi in Portugal, adding that when Israel failed to fulfil their obligations, King Juan gathered the Judeans and the Levites and deported the Judeans to Sao Tome Island, while the Levites he deported to Ibo Island and Mozambique.

“The deportees from Portugal are the INRI people in Anambra North and parts of Anambra Central senatorial zones. Enugu North senatorial zone, Owerri/Oratta in Imo South senatorial zone, and the Ngwa people in Abia South and parts of Abia Central senatorial zones.

“The tribe of Zebulon entered Southeast Nigeria between 1666-1676. They came from Libya on the instruction of Shabbatai Zevi and Prophet Nathan of Gaza to proclaim the arrival of the false prophet Shabbatai Zevi in Southeast Nigeria. They are the Edeh (Adah) people who occupied parts of Ebonyi South senatorial zone, the Abriba/Ohafia and others in Abia North senatorial zone and the Ibeku and other parts of Abia central senatorial zone.

“When the awareness campaigns become mainstream, the State of Israel must help us be free in Nigeria, or open its doors for our return to Israel,” the Rabbi added.

On why he chose to create the awareness on the origin of the Igbo tribe, Nwabunwanne said: “Our movement is a religious approach to problem solving. We seek a devaluation of power in a unified Nigeria.

“Our return to God is being hampered by Nigeria’s secularism. The book of Romans 11 stated that the reasons we fell out with God was sin. It also stated that we will reclaim our blessings when those who took our blessings commit sin.

“The United States and Britain are preoccupied with the promotion of homosexual sin today. So, we believe it is time to reclaim our blessings. We have started a movement, the Jerusalemite Organization International to teach our religion, history and the Laws of Return. We intend to evangelize the Igbo and Fang family members in Nigeria and Cameroon.”

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