By Son Tertsea, Abuja

The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has canvassed for cooperation, prosperity and hope in the Middle East instead of crisis. He said this Monday evening in Abuja while celebrating Israel’s 78th Independence Day anniversary.

Ambassador Freeman stressed also that Israel like every state in the region deserves peace which he said was the founding vision of Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, who at independence called for peace and cooperation among nations.

According to him, that vision remains central to Israel’s outlook today despite decades of regional conflicts and security challenges.

He buttressed agreements like the Abraham Accords as demonstrations of the benefits of cooperation and peaceful engagement among nations.

In his own words: “The people of Israel deserve peace. The people of Lebanon deserve peace. The people of the entire Middle East deserve peace.

“It is time to stop allowing Iran and other extremists and outside actors to hold the future of our region hostage. Let the people of the Middle East choose cooperation over conflict, prosperity over violence, hope over hatred.”

Freeman further highlighted the gains of Nigeria–Israel relations, through practical investments capable of improving livelihoods and creating opportunities.

Cooperation between both countries, he said, is already yielding results in entrepreneurship, agriculture, healthcare, education and innovation. “We are expanding cooperation in innovation, agriculture, healthcare, security, education and skills development, not because these are acts of charity. They are investments in a shared future.”

He revealed, in addition, that Israel would support a fifth cohort of entrepreneurship programme in 2027, providing young Nigerian entrepreneurs with mentorship and opportunities to grow their businesses.

The ambassador viewed collaboration in agriculture sector as one of the strongest pillars of Nigeria-Israel relations. He used the occasion to present to guests vegetables that were produced by Nigerian farmers using Israeli seedlings and technology.

He also announced Israel’s gift of 3 ambulances to Nigeria.

“Hold that box for a moment and think about what it represents. Not vegetables, possibility. Imagine that success multiplied across Nigeria. Higher yields, stronger rural communities, greater food security, and millions upon millions of lives improved.

“Today, I am also pleased to announce that the first three fully equipped ambulances donated by Israel are on their way to Nigeria.

“These ambulances will help save lives. But they are more than vehicles, they are a symbol of partnership. They are a symbol of what can happen when countries choose cooperation over division and solutions over slogans.”

Freeman expressed hope that the strength of the relationship between Israel and Nigeria would be measured by tangible outcomes rather than official statements.

At the event, Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, congratulated Israel on its 78th Independence Anniversary, stressing Nigeria’s commitment to stronger bilateral relations adding that the two countries share common values rooted in innovation, creativity and development.

Musawa said Nigeria’s growing creative economy presents opportunities for deeper collaboration with Israel in technology, innovation, culture and the creative industries to create economic opportunities for citizens of both countries.

By Felix Umande

No fewer than 50 community elders were abducted on Sunday while attempting to negotiate peace with bandits in Zamfara State, local sources and officials have confirmed.

The elders, from Magamin Diddi village in Magami/Faru Ward, Maradun Local Government Area, were reportedly held captive after traveling into the forest for dialogue with the gunmen.

An indigene of the area, Musa Sani, told newsmen on Monday that residents had agreed to seek reconciliation with the bandits to allow them return to their farms this year.

“The people of the community held a meeting and decided to reconcile with the bandits to allow us to go to our farms this year. But unfortunately, the bandits disagreed with the peace accord and decided to kidnap all 50 elders sent to them,” Sani said.

Chairman of Maradun LGA, Bello Dosara, confirmed the incident on Monday but said the community did not inform local government authorities before initiating the reconciliation process.

“We are against reconciliation with bandits, and we have repeatedly warned our people to desist from such dangerous arrangements,” Dosara said. “Everybody knows that Governor Dauda Lawal is against reconciliation with bandits.”

The chairman explained that bandits had recently blocked all roads leading to the community market in anger over the killing of their members by security operatives. He questioned the decision to meet with aggrieved gunmen seeking retaliation.

“I wonder why the community made the mistake of meeting with people who were looking for whom to kidnap,” he added.

Dosara confirmed that 11 of the abducted elders have since been released by the bandits, while the remaining 39 are still being held in captivity.

Zamfara and other northwest states have struggled with banditry, with state authorities maintaining that dialogue with criminal groups undermines security operations and encourages further attacks.

Terkura Vande in Makurdi

The Benue State Government has flagged off the May–June 2026 Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) Week, just as it has reaffirmed its commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes across the state.

It also stated that the initiative aligns with the healthcare transformation agenda and the vision of the state governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, whose administration has consistently prioritized the strengthening of primary healthcare systems, improved access to quality healthcare services, and the reduction of preventable maternal and child deaths across the state.

Performing the flag-off ceremony at the Family Support Programme, FSP, clinic, Makurdi, the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, stated that the programme is a critical intervention aimed at improving access to life-saving healthcare services for women and children across the state.

Represented by Dr Cephas Hough, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Ogwuche, noted that the activity which runs for a whole week, is designed to deliver integrated health services to mothers, newborns, and children, particularly those in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.

He emphasized that maternal and child health remains a key indicator of societal development and called for sustained collective action to address preventable deaths resulting from pregnancy-related complications and childhood illnesses.

According to him, “Every mother deserves quality healthcare before, during, and after childbirth, while every child deserves the opportunity to survive, grow, and reach their full potential.

“This MNCH week provides an opportunity to intensify interventions that will safeguard the lives of mothers and children throughout Benue state.”

He informed that during the exercise, pregnant women would receive focused antenatal care services, micronutrient supplementation, health education, and counseling, while children would benefit from routine immunization, Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, nutrition screening, and other essential child survival interventions.

Other services to be provided during the week include HIV testing and counseling, distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets (LLINs), birth registration services, newborn care interventions, family planning counseling, malaria prevention education, and promotion of proper hygiene practices.

The Commissioner urged mothers, fathers, caregivers, and community leaders to actively participate in the programme and encourage community members to take advantage of the free health services being offered throughout the exercise.

Dr Ogwuche further acknowledged development partners and donor agencies, for their continued support to the health sector and called for stronger collaboration to expand healthcare coverage and improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations.

While Dr Ogwuche, called on stakeholders to work collectively towards reducing preventable maternal and child deaths, he reiterated the commitment of the ministry to sustaining interventions that improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes.

The programme brought together officials of the Benue State Primary Health Care Board, development partners, healthcare professionals, traditional and religious leaders, community representatives, mothers, caregivers, and other stakeholders in the health sector.