Dr. Joe Abah, a respected lawyer and former Director-General of Nigeria’s Bureau of Public Sector Reform, has publicly distanced himself from the long-standing claim that the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria are descendants of Jews from Israel.
Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) account, Dr. Abah firmly declared that the Igbo people did not migrate from Israel, stating that his own roots are deeply native to Nigeria.
“I am not a Jew. I am Igbo. We didn’t migrate from Israel or anywhere else,” he wrote.
“My People Were Created in Uburu, Ebonyi State”
Dr. Abah emphasized his ancestral origins in Uburu, Ebonyi State, where he believes his lineage has existed since the beginning of time. He noted that cultural practices in the region, such as oath-taking and traditional sacrifices, are strong indicators of long-standing indigenous traditions—not foreign ones.
“My people were created by God in Uburu in the present Ebonyi State. My ancestral home has been there from the beginning of time. Some still go there to offer sacrifices and swear oaths. Igbo! No apologies,” he stated.
Background: The Igbo-Jewish Connection Debate
The assertion that the Igbo people are descendants of the ancient Israelites has been a subject of debate for decades. While some cultural and religious scholars have pointed out similarities in customs, rituals, and language between the Igbo and Jewish communities, others—including Abah—have called the theory speculative and lacking concrete historical evidence.
Dr. Abah’s rejection of the theory contributes to the ongoing conversation about the true origins of the Igbo ethnic group, which remains a deeply sensitive topic both culturally and politically.
