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Int’l Holocaust Day: Israel Calls for Education to Ward Off Another Reoccurrence

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Int’l Holocaust Day: Israel Calls for Education to Ward Off Another Reoccurrence

By: Michael Mike

The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman has underscored the need for adequate investment in education to address the dangers of hate speech and hatred, and to ward off any reoccurrence of Holocaust.

Freeman, who is also the Permanent Representative of Israel to ECOWAS, while speaking at a commemoration of International Holocaust Day in Abuja on Friday, said the attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023 was the same as the Holocaust, both a child of anti-Semitic hate.

United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/7 that established the Holocaust and UN Outreach Programme, also designated January 27, as annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of victims of the Holocaust.

Freeman said: “79 years ago, millions of Jews were murdered. Holocaust began with words, hate speech, singing out and dehumanising of Jewish people; which many people looked the other way.

“After the world stood by as millions of people were murdered, we suddenly declared `Never Again’ Holocaust denial took 30-years before it became widespread phenomenon today.

“Education is critical if we have to reverse the trend: when it happened 6-million Jews were murdered, when we talk about the number, we talk about population of cities.

“Yet, it still remains an unimaginable number, the only way to understand the dangers of Holocaust are from expression by individuals.”

He noted that the hatred that gave birth to Holocaust over 75 years ago was still much around today, insisting that education is the only cure.

UN Resident Coordinator who was represented by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Walter Mulombo, reading the message of the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres said there is need for a collective efforts to end all forms of Holocaust.

He said: “Today, we pause to mourn the six million Jewish children, women, and men systematically murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators.

“We recognised the horrific resonance this day of commemoration finds in our own times, the antisemitic hate that fuelled the Holocaust.

“We did not start with the Nazis, nor did it end with their defeat.’’

According to him, today, we are witnessing hate spreading at alarming speed online, it has moved from margins to the mainstream.

He added that we must remember that disdain for diversity is danger to everyone, as no society is immune to intolerance and bigotry against one group is bigotry against all.

The British High Commissioner, Dr Richard Montgomery, represented by Cynthia Rowe, Development Director, FCDO, of British High Commission in Nigeria said: “UK government is committed to creating education and research about the Holocaust.

“We are building new Holocaust-memorial in London expected to be completed in 2027; UK will take on the precedence on International Day in remembrance of the victims of Holocaust in March, 2024.

The “theme of our precedence is in plain sight drawing attention that Holocaust did not happen in dark corner”.

The mission envoy explained that such would highlight suicidal practice, which allowed mass murder to have taken place on large scale.

“It is our collective responsibility to remember the horrors of the Holocaust and renew our vows that `Never again,” the envoy said.

Int’l Holocaust Day: Israel Calls for Education to Ward Off Another Reoccurrence

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One killed, dozens abducted as bandits launch multiple attacks in Zurmi, Bungudu LGAs in Zamfara

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One killed, dozens abducted as bandits launch multiple attacks in Zurmi, Bungudu LGAs in Zamfara

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits have carried out a series of coordinated attacks across parts of Zamfara State, killing one person and abducting several others in Zurmi and Bungudu Local Government Areas, security sources have confirmed.

In the first incident, bandits invaded Tungar Tsamiya village in Moriki District of Zurmi LGA at about 10:40 p.m. on Nov. 30, shooting dead one resident and abducting 10 others.

Security forces launched a search-and-rescue operation to locate the victims.

Barely hours later, on Monday morning, another group of bandits attacked Doguwar Gona forest in the same Moriki District.

The assailants abducted 17 men and women who were in the area fetching firewood. Security personnel are tracking the movement of the attackers with the aim of rescuing the captives.

In a separate incident in Bungudu LGA, gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles stormed Makwa village in Kurar Mota District at about 12:15 p.m. on Dec. 1 and abducted an unconfirmed number of residents.

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA and police operatives, supported by local vigilante groups, have intensified efforts to rescue all abducted victims and restore calm across the affected communities.

Search operations are ongoing.

One killed, dozens abducted as bandits launch multiple attacks in Zurmi, Bungudu LGAs in Zamfara

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NSA Ribadu visits Kontagora Bishop, pledges swift rescue of abducted Niger schoolchildren

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NSA Ribadu visits Kontagora Bishop, pledges swift rescue of abducted Niger schoolchildren

By: Zagazola Makama

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday paid a sympathy visit to the Bishop of Kontagora, Bishop Bulus Yohanna, following the recent abduction of students of St. Mary Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

The NSA, who arrived Kontagora by helicopter at about noon, was accompanied by the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Tony Ajayi; the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs; and senior officials from the Office of the NSA.

Ribadu and his entourage proceeded to the office of the Bishop at St. Michael Church, where they met with representatives of families of the abducted students, the school principal, and the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the 19 Northern States, Bishop Joseph Hayap.

During the meeting, the NSA assured the community that the Federal Government was intensifying efforts to secure the safe release of the abducted pupils and staff.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending attacks on schools and ensuring the safety of students across the country.

NSA Ribadu visits Kontagora Bishop, pledges swift rescue of abducted Niger schoolchildren

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Seven Cameroonians arrested over alleged involvement in banditry near border community in Benue

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Seven Cameroonians arrested over alleged involvement in banditry near border community in Benue

By: Zagazola Makama

Security operatives in Benue have arrested seven foreign nationals suspected of involvement in local criminal activities in Imande-Agbatse, a border community between Nigeria and Cameroon.

Zagazola learnt that the suspects, all Cameroonians, were intercepted by youths of the community in the early hours of Monday and later handed over to security forces.

The arrested suspects were identified as Titakung Cyril Gadinga, Nuvi Clifford Babila, Foyabo Godwin Nuvi T, Doh Collins Dobgima, Basil Smith, Dama Kenneth Babila, and Dingana Emmanuel.

The youths who apprehended them accused the men of engaging in banditry and aiding criminal networks operating along the border axis.

They are currently in the custody of the State Police Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), where they are undergoing profiling and investigation.

Security sources say Benue remains relatively calm, even as investigations continue to determine the level of involvement of the suspects in cross-border criminal activities.

Further updates are expected as inquiries progress.

Seven Cameroonians arrested over alleged involvement in banditry near border community in Benue

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