26 Years Anniversary of Israeli hero

Yoruba boy, the first and only black African IDF soldier who died defending Israel

By Akinola Sanusi

He was the first and only Nigerian that has ever joined the Israeli Defence Force, (IDF)

His parents, Ola Adesina were born in Ijesa but they later migrated to Lagos. The parents attended Church in Lagos but later converted to Judaism. At 18, little Sola Adebiyi joined the mandatory Israeli military service by enlisting in the IDF having being born on November 18, 1980 in Lagos.

After his combat training, he became a Sergeant in the Israeli Defence Force, (IDF) with training background in infantry.

‘We would like to take a moment to remember Sergeant Shlomo (Adbigi’) Adshinah” an IDF official said in a recent tribute.

Sola has been described as a brave and courageous soldier who died in the service of Israeli nation, Irohinooodua was told.

The Israelis had applied Hebrew in spelling his name.
Irohinoodua was informed that Sola’s father was a priest and a well known leader in his community. When Sola was six years old, his parents converted to Judaism. Sola embraced Aliyah making his to migrate to Isreal with his father and two sisters in 1997.

Aliyah refers to term reflects both a physical and spiritual journey of returning to the ancestral Jewish homeland

Sola later joined the Israeli Defense Force, (IDF) becoming the first and only Nigerian, in fact the first and only black African that ever joined the IDF.
While in Israeli, he fought to be posted to combat. His commanders agreed and transferred him to the elite Nahal Infantry Brigade. He was just 19 years, full of energy, strength and raw talents, ambition, youth enthusiasm and adventure.

In the year 2000, while on a Combat mission, Sergeant Adesina was killed by a Palestinian sniper in the month of November. The attack was in the West Bank of Al-Khader located next to Bethlehem. IDF records praised him as a courageous Israeli soldier who died in the service of fatherland. His family remains the only black family that have ever converted to Judaisim and then migrated to Israeli with their only son serving in the IDF where he paid the supreme sacrifice.

Today, Sola Adebiyi Adesina is honoured every year by Israel as a brave soldier who died defending his adopted homeland of Israel.