Israel pledges to help Nigeria fight terrorism

Israel pledges to help Nigeria fight terrorism
Ngozi John-Anigbogu, Abuja

Israel says it is willing to offer Intelligence Services and technical know-how to Nigeria as it battles terrorism in the country.

The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Moshe Ram, gave the indication in Abuja on Friday, when he presented the first batch of medical supplies from the Israeli government worth over two million Naira to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, for the people injured in the Christmas Day bomb blast at St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, in Niger State, northern Nigeria.

Ambassador Ram said Israel was inclined to sympathize with Nigeria because it has been fighting terrorism for many years and fully understands the sorrow and pain caused by such barbaric acts. “Intelligence is the most important issue in dealing with suicide bombers because if you do not have a good intelligence, you cannot preempt it. Intelligence is most important because you need to know where the would-be-suicide bomber is being trained, who is going to supply him with the explosives, what will be the route in which he is going to proceed to the place that he would like to explode? This is a very sophisticated way of dealing with terror. Suicide bombing is the height of terrorist activities. Israel for many years was exposed to that act unfortunately. We will rather invest our efforts in this. Because of our experiences, because of the very good bilateral relationships with Nigeria whether it is on the government level or on the people level, we have offered our assistance and willingness to assist Nigeria in different areas especially on how to counter terrorism. We have the experience,”the envoy emphasized.

Fight against terrorism

Mr Ram also urged Nigerians to help the government, stressing that the fight against terrorism was the responsibility of everybody “It is not only the obligation of the government. Of course the first thing the government should do is to protect the lives and properties of the people but it should be very well understood my friend, that this kind of battle, the battle against terror is everyone’s battle. Of course you cannot prevent it but you should be vigilant, you should look around, you should point out the things that you are not comfortable with. I mean the way that the ordinary people in the street should look, I mean this one is looking a little bit suspicious, this one is out of context in this area, this bag should not be here, this bag might be dangerous. This is how in Israel we were able to motivate the people and make them partners in trying to secure our wellbeing.’’

Describing Nigeria as a country on a cross-road, he said the country can only preempt and prevent terrorism with the support of the Nigerian people and strong policies of government.

The envoy, acknowledging that the fight against terrorism was a difficult one that may take time to deal with because the perpetrators are faceless and may not be known, called on the international community to build a strong network against terrorism.

Speaking while receiving the medical supplies made up of consumables, dressings, infusions, medicines, pads and wipes, on behalf of NEMA  Dr Edward Maigida,  thanked the Israeli government for the gesture and promised that the relief materials would be transparently distributed to the hospitals treating the victims and called for more assistance. “We continue to look forward not only to Israel, but also to other people and governments all over the world to assist.”

Speaking, the Parish Priest of the St Thersa’s Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Gopep Sylvester Luka, expressed the gratitude of the Catholic Church for the assistance given to them at this “trying time”. In his words, “we are experiencing what actually is difficult to manage because we are now facing difficulties from a faceless enemy, enemy that has no face because if we know his face and can identify his face, I am sure that we will go straight to where he is and may arrest him and know where to keep and how to touch him but then he has no face. We are grateful to the government of Israel for identifying with us at this very sad moment.’’

He told Voice of Nigeria Later in an interview that he could not give the exact number of the injured, because as at Thursday, more victims were still being sent the hospitals. Rev Fr. Luka also thanked the Nigerian Government for its show of solidarity, saying many government functionaries had been visiting the site of the bomb blast to commiserate with the Church, adding that the Nigeria police had beefed up security around the Church.

Dr Bimpe Adeboye of the Ministry of Health, responsible for federal government tertiary hospitals in which the hospitals treating the victims fall under, was also present during the presentation of Medical supplies.

Cokey