The True History Of Arochukwu Confederacy

By Eze Nnanyereugo

The history of Arochukwu is traces back to 100 AD when a group of men of Igbo origin came to the territory and founded the place known today as Arochukwu.

Arochukwu is situated at 5.39° North latitude, 7.91° East longitude and 141 meters elevation above the sea level.

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Arochukwu people started procreating growing in numbers, in and out of communal wars with their neighbors up until 16th century, around 1500 – 1550 Aro – Ibibio war occurred, in the mist of stalemate in the war, Aro leaders invited a priest from Edda clan in present day Afikpo Ebony state, by name Nnachi

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Nnachi with his group helped the Aro people to conquer the Ibibios, and formed the Arochukwu confederacy, the first Eze Aro of a unify Arochukwu was Agwu Inobia, after his death, Nnachi’s son Oke Nnachi took over and his descendants have the throne till this day.

Arochukkwu influence spreaded all across Igbo land (the former eastern region and parts of middle belt) and beyond up-to Southern Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

Aro people were the foremost merchants dealing with the Europeans, on goods and services, during Transatlantic slave trade they were the local brokers providing captives for European slave merchants.

This led to their creation of market networks, trade routes all across Igbo land [ the former Eastern region and parts of Middle belt Nigeria ].

By the mid-17th century, Arochukwu people founded many other communities all across Igbo land [ the former Eastern region and part of Middle belt Nigeria ].

The Aros in some of these communities have hosts, and were invited by these hosts in the face of attacks by enemy forces to provide defense, and immediately the Aros came every attacks stops, and in some other communities they came by conquest, still in some of the communities they were the first to settle there.

THESE ARE SOME OF ARO COMMUNITIES:

*  Aro Atani: present day Anambra state

*  Aro Ndi-onyemobi In Oguta, present day Imo state

*  Aro Abiaziem: In Oguta, present day Imo state

*  Aro Nzerem: present day Ebony state

*  Aro Amokwe: In Udi, present day Enugwu state

*  Aro Isiopko: In Ikwere, present day River state

*  Aro Igwurita: In Ikwere, present day River state

*  Aro Chinda: In Obio-akpor, present day River state

*  Aro Ajatakiri: In Ikwuano, Umuahia, present day Abia state

*  Aro Achara: In Ama-asa Isiala Ngwa, present day Abia state

*  Aro Ume Nkpe: In Isiala Ngwa, present day Abia state

*  Aro Nbawsi: In Isiala Ngwa, present day Abia state

*  Aro Omoba: In Isiala Ngwa, present day Abia state

*  Aro Okporoenyi: In Ikwuano, present day Abia state

*  Aro Iyama: In Ikwuano, present day Abia state

*  Aro Amuru: In Ikwuano, present day Abia state

*  Aro Ndi-Izuogu: In Ideato, present day Imo state

*  Aro Ndi-Ikelionwu: In Orumba, present day Anambra state

*  Aro Ajali: In Orumba, present day Anambra state

*  Aro Isuochi: present day Abia state

*  Aro Abagana: present day Anambra state

*  Aro Oru: present day Imo state

*  Aro Nempi: present day Imo state

*  Aro Ngwa: present  day Abia state

*  Aro Ezeagu: present day Enugwu state

*  Aro Achi: present day Enugwu state

*  Aro Oboro Ite:

*  Aro Kalabari: present day River state

*  Aro Opobo: presennt day River state

*  Aro Uturu: present day Abia state

*  Aro Anwu Anwu: In Umudurunna Abba Nwangele, present day Imo state

*  Aro Okija: In Ihiala, present day Anambra state

*  Aro Izombe: present day Abia State.

*  Aro Nkwere: present day Imo state

And many more….

These migrations, influence of their Arusi [ Ibini Ukpabi ] through priests, and their military power backed up by alliances with several related neighboring Igbo militarized communities (particularly Ohafia, Abam, Abiriba, Afikpo, etc.) quickly established the Aro Confederacy as a regional economic power. However, Aro economic hegemony was threatened by the penetration of Europeans, mainly British colonists in the wake of the 20th century. Tensions finally led to bloodshed and the Anglo-Aro war took place from 1901-1902. The Aro Confederacy stoutly resisted but were eventually defeated. This helped the British to occupy the rest of what is now known as Eastern Nigeria.