A post currently being circulated on social media by a non-governmental organization, Igbo Solidarity, states that the Igbo-speaking people of Nigeria are identifiable not only in the five states of Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Abia but also in parts of 10 other states in the south-south, south-west, and north-central of the country.
The post titled “Igbo in Non-South-Eastern States of the Federation” locates the Igbo of Nigeria also in Rivers, Edo, Benue, Kogi, Ondo, Oyo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom states:
Rivers State
1) Egbema
2) Etche
3) Omuma
4) Ndoni
5) Ikwerre
6) Ekpeye
7) Obigbo
8) Opobo
9) Ogba
Edo State
10) Igbanke/Igboakiri
In fact most people do not even know that Archbishop Benson Idahosa and his wife are Igbo from Igbanke in Uhuonde local government area of Edo State that was formerly in Orhionwon LGA.
The mother of the late Samuel Odaigbovo Ogbemudia is Igbanke!
Most indigenes of this town, just like the Ika people, bear hybrid names that most often could jolly well pass as Edo because of their names like Nduka Irabor, Jim Ovia, Omorogie Nwawanne, and Collins Edomaruse etc.
Delta State
11) Ika
12) Ndokwa
13) Ukwuani
14) Aniocha
15) Oshimili
Bayelsa State
16) Osekwenike, Abuetor and Eke Okpokri villages — all in Sagbama area of Bayelsa — are Igbo of Ukwuani stock and, as such, are of the Anioma Igbo clan of the Igbo ethnic group in Bayelsa.
Cross River State
17) Isobo — even Liyel Imoke, former Cross River State governor, and his wife are Igbo from Abi LGA of Cross River.
Akwa Ibom State
18) Ikot Udo Ika, in Ika local government area of Akwa Ibom, is an Igbo community.
Benue State
19) The Igbo in Benue State, particularly those in Ado, Oju, Obi and Okpoku LGAs of the state, were in existence before the advent of Christianity religion in Nigeria.
The Igbo found in Benue are: Umuezeokoha, Umuezeoka, Oriuzor, Umuoghara, Amaekka and Amaezekwe all in Ezza communities, Izzi, Ezzamgbo and Effium.
These are people who would have been in present-day Ebonyi State, but the Nigerian government then lumped them with Benue in order to suppress the population of the south-east. Apart from the Ezza-speaking clan, particularly the people of Umuezeokoha with over 300 villages, if you are to calculate the number of Igbo-speaking villages in Benue State, you would be talking altogether of about over 600 villages.
Three of the biggest markets in Benue are in the Igbo-speaking part. The markets are Inikiri Ichari, Iddah, and Iduokpe.
There are also some Igbo-speaking Idoma towns in Benue State.
Kogi State
20) The indigenous Igbo-speaking communities in Kogi State especially in Ibaji and Igalamela/Odolu LGAs are Eke Avurugo community including Nwajala, Umuoye, Ubulie-Umuez, Ozara, Umuoye and many more.
Ondo State
21) Ugbo
Oyo State
22) The current Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, also told us that his kingdom was initially conquered by the Igbo (please note that he was not referring to the Ugbo of Ondo State) until they were rescued by Moremi; and he also spoke of an aboriginal Igbo community that still exists in Ile-Ife to this day.
Now you know the Igbo are far more than the fake South-East they lie to you about always. We are all brothers and sisters!
