Amaifeke

Last updated
Amaifeke
Urban town
CountryNigeria
StateImo
Local Government AreaOrlu

Amaifeke is an urban town in Orlu Local Government Area LGA of Imo State in the Niger Delta region of South Eastern Nigeria. The town shares the Orlu Urban metropolis area with Umuna and part of Orlu village. [1] The indigenous population of Amaifeke belong to the Igbo ethnic group and the town is situated within the Igbo cultural area. Amaifeke shares boundaries with the following towns; Ihioma, Okporo, Okwuabala, Umuna, Orlu and Owere Ebeiri. The main language spoken in Amaifeke is the Orsu variant of the Igbo language.

Contents

Demographics

The current population of Amaifeke is unknown although the last estimate placed the population of Orlu at around 420,000 citizens of which Amaifeke represents a large proportion as a major urban location. There is also a large Amaifeke diaspora that contributes to the town's economy.[ citation needed ]

Geography

The larger town of Amaifeke was recently divided into three autonomous communities: [2]

Ofeahia has most of the urban areas of the town, including some of the landmark establishments of the Orlu Urban Council: the Orlu Local Government Headquarters building, the Human Development Centre, the Orlu Cheshire Home and the Headquarters of the Orlu zonal Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture. [3]

History

During the late 70s and early 80s, Amaifeke indigenes championed the evolution of small and medium scale industries within the Orlu region which helped to light up the socio-economic activities of the Orlu area. Some of the leading industrial establishments in the manufacturing sector include; the Stavico Manufacturing Group, Alfopam Industries and the Seamasters Limited. [4] [5]

The town was also strategic to the secessionist Biafran forces during the Nigerian Civil War as it was used as the centre for the International Relief Operation for Biafra by international Charity Organisations like the Red Cross Society and the Caritas International under the management of Rev.Fr Courtney and assisted by then young Godwin Okwara.[ citation needed ]

Notable residents

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anambra State</span> State of Nigeria

Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on 27 August 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State and Rivers State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owerri</span> Capital city of Imo state, Nigeria

Owerri is the capital city of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of Igboland. It is also the state's largest city, followed by Orlu, Okigwe and Ohaji/Egbema. Owerri consists of three Local Government Areas including Owerri Municipal, Owerri North and Owerri West, it has an estimated population of about 1,401,873 as of 2016 and is approximately 100 square kilometres (40 sq mi) in area. Owerri is bordered by the Otamiri River to the east and the Nworie River to the south. The Owerri Slogan is Heartland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aba, Nigeria</span> City in Abia, Nigeria

Aba is a city in the southeast of Nigeria and the commercial center of Abia State. Upon the creation of Abia state in 1991, Aba was divided into two local government areas; Aba South and Aba North. Aba South is the main city centre of Abia State, south-east Nigeria. It is located on the Aba River. Aba is made up of many villages such as; Aba-Ukwu, Eziukwu-Aba, Obuda-Aba, Umuokpoji-Aba and other villages from Ohazu merged due to administrative convenience. Aba was established by the Ngwa clan of Igbo people of Nigeria as a market town and then later a military post was placed there by the British colonial administration in 1901. It lies along the west bank of the Aba River, and is at the intersection of roads leading to Port Harcourt, Owerri, Umuahia, Ikot Ekpene, and Ikot-Abasi. The city became a collecting point for agricultural products following the British made railway running through it to Port Harcourt. Aba is a major urban settlement and commercial centre in a region that is surrounded by small villages and towns. The indigenous people of Aba are the Ngwa. Aba is well known for its craftsmen and also the most populous city in the South Eastern Nigeria. As of 2016, Aba had an estimated population of 2,534,265. The state's slogan is "God's own State".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benue State</span> State of Nigeria

Benue State is one of the North Central states in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in 2006 census. The state was created in 1976 among the seven states created at that time. The state derives its name from the Benue River which is the second largest river in Nigeria after the River Niger. The state borders Nasarawa State to the North; Taraba State to the East; Kogi State to the West; Enugu State to the South-West; Ebonyi and Cross-Rivers States to the South; and has an international border with Cameroon to the South-East. It is inhabited predominantly by the Tiv, Idoma, Orring and Igede. Minority ethnic groups in Benue are Etulo, Igbo, Jukun peoples etc. Its capital is Makurdi. Benue is a rich agricultural region; popularly grown crops include: oranges, mangoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, soya bean, guinea corn, flax, yams, sesame, rice, groundnuts, and Palm tree.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rivers State</span> State of Nigeria

Rivers State, also known as Rivers, is a state in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria. Formed in 1967, when it was split from the former Eastern Region, Rivers State borders include Imo and Anambra to the north, Abia and Akwa Ibom to the east, and Bayelsa and Delta to the west.The State capital, Port Harcourt, is a metropolis that is considered to be the commercial center of the Nigerian oil industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enugu State</span> State of Nigeria

Enugu State is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by the states of Benue and Kogi, Ebonyi State to the east and southeast, Abia State to the south, and Anambra State to the west. The state takes its name from its capital and largest city, Enugu. The city acquired township status in 1917 and was called Enugwu-Ngwo. Due to the rapid expansion towards areas owned by other indigenous communities, it was renamed Enugu in 1928.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Awka</span> Capital city of Anambra State, Nigeria

Awka is the capital city of Anambra State, Nigeria. The city was declared capital on 21 August 1991, after the creation of Anambra and Enugu state, which moved the capital from Enugu to Awka. The city has an estimated population of 301,657 as of the 2006 Nigerian census, and over 2.5 million as of a 2018 estimate. The city is located at 199.1 kilometres (123.7 mi), by road, directly north of Port Harcourt in the centre of the densely-populated Igbo heartland in South-East Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orlu, Imo</span> LGA and city in Imo, Nigeria

Orlu is the second-largest city in South East, Imo State, Nigeria, with a population of 420,600. It has a long history as the headquarters for the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and humanitarian relief agencies during the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War. The city houses the Nigerian headquarters of the British Cheshire Home. It is the second most developed city after Owerri in Imo state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oguta</span> Local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria

Oguta is a town on the east bank of Oguta Lake in Imo State of southeastern Nigeria.

Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, also known as Imo State Airport, serves Owerri, the capital city of Imo State in southeastern Nigeria. It is located in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State.

Orodo is an Igbo community in Mbaitoli local government area of Imo State, Nigeria. It is situated between Owerri city and Orlu town. Orodo has borders with Ogwa, Mbieri, Afara, Ifakala, Umuaka, Amurie Omanze and Amandugba. Also, the current Mbaitoli Local Government Headquarters is significantly located at a part of Orodo called Ofekata. The community said to have seven road junction, in the center of the community called nkwo-orodo. The roads are: Ubaha-Eze road, Ahaba road, Amaukwu road, Umuonyahu road, Amaku road, Ofekata road and Eziama road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imo State</span> State of Nigeria

Imo State is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by Anambra State, Rivers State to the west and south, and Abia State to the east. It takes its name from the Imo River which flows along the state's eastern border. The state capital is Owerri and the state nickname is the "Eastern Heartland."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onuimo</span> Local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria

Onuimo is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Okwe. It comprises four towns namely: Okwe, Okwelle, Umuduru-Egbeaguru and Umuna. It is home to very prominent Nigerians such as The ever influential dynamic estate surveyor; Prof. James Gaius Ibe- USA trained and tenured professor of economics, finance and business administration, Dr Dennis Ndububa-a graduate of UNN with close to 40 years of professional practice as a medical doctor; Dr. Victor Ndububa; Dr. Christian Egemba; Dr. Kaunda Ibe-Consultant Neurosurgeon at Imo State University Teaching Hospital Orlu Imo State; Dr. Geraldine Echue-winner in Global Chemistry competition; Chief Adol N. Obi - the former bursar of Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri, and Engr Ekene Echefu - a lecturer in Mechatronics engineering department, federal polytechnic Nekede Owerri.Taiwo Damilola also served there. Also American author and writer Dreux Richard resides in Okwe to complete his writing when in Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oru East</span> LGA in Imo State, Nigeria

Oru-East is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is at Omuma. The following are towns that make up Oru East: Akatta, Akuma, Amagu, Amiri, Awo-Omamma, and Omuma.

The South East is the one of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria representing both a geographic and political region of the country's inland southeast. It comprises five states – Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.

Okwuabala is a semi-urban community in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, in the Niger Delta region of South Eastern Nigeria. The community shares boundaries with Ogberuru, Mgbe and Amaifeke. The indigenous people of Okwuabala belong to the Igbo ethnic group and the town is situated within the Igbo cultural area. The main language spoken in Okwuabala is the Orsu-Orlu variant of the Igbo language.

Akatta is a major town in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State in Nigeria. It is bordered to the north west by the towns Nnempi, Akuma and Amagu, to the north east by Amaebu and Amazu, to the south east by Okporo, Umutanze and Atta Njaba, and to the south west by Omuma. The following villages make up Akatta: Akwa, Urah, Ichi-Amaka, Ubaha, Ubahangwu, Okporo, Okwu and Azu Akatta. The town is approximately 10 km (6 mi) west of Orlu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria</span> Conflict in Nigeria (2021-present)

The insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria is a military conflict that broke out in the city of Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria on 16 January 2021, when the Nigerian Army moved to crush the paramilitary wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Eastern Security Network (ESN). The conflict escalated after the ESN managed to repulse the initial push by the Nigerian Army, but IPOB ended the initial crisis by unilaterally withdrawing the ESN from Orlu. After a few weeks of quiet, Nigeria launched a military offensive in the area to destroy the ESN. On 19 February 2021, IPOB declared that as of the day before, a state of war existed between Nigeria and Biafra. Three weeks later, another separatist group declared the formation of a Biafran interim government which was subsequently endorsed by IPOB. Since then, the Biafran separatists have begun to form alliances with other separatist groups in Nigeria and Cameroon. Despite these developments, the separatists claimed that their militant operations were mainly aimed at defending local communities from armed herders and bandits instead of fighting the Nigerian government. In late June, IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu was arrested by Interpol and handed over to Nigerian authorities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Security Network</span> Paramilitary organization in Nigeria

The Eastern Security Network (ESN) is the paramilitary organization of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a pro-Biafra separatist movement.

References

  1. Daily Champion News of 11 Nov. 2009
  2. The Heartlander News of 1 February 2013 Archived 2 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Allafrica news of 20 March 2009
  4. http://theadvocatengr.com/new/ Archived 2014-05-05 at the Wayback Machine ? The Advocate news of 17 April 2014
  5. naulibrary.org/dglibrary/admin/book_directory/Thesis/10350.pdf
  6. vanguard news of Oct 9 2013

5°47′55.277″N7°1′13.512″E / 5.79868806°N 7.02042000°E / 5.79868806; 7.02042000