Military Wiki
The Aro-Ibibio wars
Date1630–1720
1720–1902
LocationSoutheastern Nigeria
Result The Arochukwu Kingdom is founded (1690-1720)
Belligerents
Eze Agwu clan
Nnachi clan
Obong Okon Ita rebels
Akpa allies
Obong Okon Ita
Obot Mme
Mako
Commanders and leaders
Agwu Inobia
Kakpokpo Okon
Nnachi
Oke Nnachi
Osim and Akuma Nnubi
Akpan Okon
Urunk
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Slight Slight

The Aro-Ibibio Wars were a series of conflicts between the Aro people (subgroup of the Igbo) and several Ibibio groups in present day Southeastern Nigeria from 1630 to 1720. These wars led to the foundation of the Arochukwu kingdom.

The Arochukwu conquest[]

For about a thousand years, a clan of the Ibibio tribe lived in the area which later became Arochukwu. They founded several states (Obong Okon Ita and Ibom) and had a strong cultural presence. Igbo migration into the region, was led by the Eze Agwu clan in the mid-17th century. The Ibibios resisted these newcomers and this resulted in a stalemate. The Eze Awgu clan searched for ways to subdue the stiff Ibibio resistance. The Priest Nnachi from the Edda group near Afikpo, was called by their king Awgu Inobia (Eze Agwu) for help. When he arrived, Nnachi and Eze Agwu allied with prince Kakpokpo Okon of the Ibibio kingdom of Obong Okon Ita. Kakpokpo Okon was the son of a marriage between an Igbo woman of the Eze Agwu clan and the King of Obong Okon Ita. The Eze Agwu/Nnachi faction decided to help Kakpokpo attempt to overthrow his brother king Akpan Okon. The coup was heavily resisted which called for even more help. Through Nnachi, an Eastern Cross river group answered the call for help. They were known as the Akpa. The Akpa were mercenaries and lived in close proximity to and intermarried with the Efiks who traded with the Europeans. The Akpa purchased European guns through the Efiks and brought these to the Aros. Osim and Akuma Nnubi led Akpa mercenaries to help fight against the Ibibios. Together with Igbo and Aro fighters, they fought against the forces of the Ibom Kingdom but could not prevail. The Ibom worriors later withdrew when they discovered that the Aro Confederacy had breached the principles of the ancient worriors code by using foreign weapons and hiring mercenaries. Moreover, the Ibom worriors had heard that some of the mercenaries hired by the Aro fighters were of Efik heritage, the Ibibio warriors therefore withdrew because they would not shed the blood of their Efik kinsmen. At the end of the war, Osim and Kakpokpo were dead. Osim Nnubi was slain in Oror city state making it the capital of Arochukwu during the final phases of the battle. In order to honor Osim's legacy, his brother Akuma was crowned the first EzeAro (king). After his death, Nnachi's descendants took the throne starting with his first son Oke Nnachi. The Arochukwu kingdom, was founded.[1]

Aftermath[]

After Arochukwu was formed, it began to expand because of the growing population and territorial protection. Ibibio groups and their allies (Obot Mme, Mako, and etc.) sporadically attacked Arochukwu shortly after its formation. Aro forces formed vigilante camps which eventually grew into communities on the Arochukwu-Ibibio boundaries.

As the Arochukwu kingdom rose into a Confederacy of 19 states, the palm and slave trade became popular. Several Aro business families migrated to Ibibioland and established colonies. This helped to spread the influence of the Aro Oracle, Ibini Ukpabi. Some Aro merchants and mercenaries helped their Efik allies capture and sell many indigenes of the region as slaves to the Europeans.

During the 1890s, the Aro resisted British penetration in the hinterland. The Aro and their allies launched offensives against British allies in Igbo and Ibibioland until 1901. After failed negotiations, the British planned on capturing Igboland and Ibibioland through the Aro Confederacy in 1899. The tensions rose and resulted in the Anglo-Aro War (1901–1902). During the war, several friendly communities and local collaborators were utilized by British troops. Some of the communities were in the Ibibio areas around Itu which was one of four axes of advance by British troops to Arochukwu. It was also through Itu that Arochukwu was first invaded during the war. Aro forces were defeated in spring 1902.

See also[]

  • Arochukwu
  • Aro Confederacy
  • Akpa
  • Aro history

External links[]

References[]

  1. "The Confederation of Three Dynasties". Editorial Suite. 8 March 2008. http://aronewsonline.org/html/Prologue.asp. Retrieved 2009-01-02. 
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