DNA research just published reveals that Ndigbo are not Jewish and did not migrate from Israel

RESULTS from a recent DNA search into the ancestry of Igbos has debunked the myth that Ndigbo are Jewish in origin or are one of the 12 lost tribes of Israel as has been claimed by several nationalist groups.

Over the last two years, calls for the recreation of the defunct republic of Biafra that briefly existed between July 1967 and January 1970 have grown with secessionist groups like the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) demanding an independent Igbo nation state. Ipob leader Nnamdi Kanu regularly appears in Jewish garbs and tells his supporters that Ndigbo are one of God's chosen people in the bible.

Today, however, this has been proven not to be the case as the results of a five-month study into the DNA of Igbos has just been published, proving that they are not Jewish in origin. Jewish scientists visited Nnewi in Anambra State to trace Ndigbo's ancestral lineage but the results have shown that Igbos are not from the same stock as Ethiopia's Falasha Jews or South Africa's Lemba Jews.

Rabbi Jonathan Bernis, the international president of the Jewish Voice Ministries, said the results of the DNA samples taken in Nnewi returned negative. Speaking from a laboratory in Houston, Texas, he said the 124 saliva samples taken from some random people in Igboland did not match the ones found in the laboratory's database.

Members of the Redeemed Israel Community of Nazarene Association (Ricon) had gathered at Uruagu, near Nnewi, hoping for a positive result but were disappointed. However, Ricon president  Bishop Ignatius Orizu, maintained that this revelation does not stop the claims Igbo people have to Israel, as more research would be done.

Bishop Orizu claims that Igbos have long maintained cultures similar to the Israelites, even before missionaries came to Nigeria. He also said several books have proof of claims of the Igbo-Israeli connection.

In addition, Bishop Orizu, also appealed to the federal government to recognise Jewish traditions in Nigeria, urging it to proclaim festivals such as the Feast of Passover, Trumpets, Atonements, Tabernacles etc, as official public holidays. An estimated 30,000 Igbos were practicing some form of Judaism in 2008, while there are said to be an addition 2,000 Yoruba Jews in Nigeria.