Total population | |
---|---|
<100,000 | |
Languages | |
Ariam Igbo, English, Nigerian Pidgin | |
Religion | |
Christianity | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Oloko, Abam, Ngwa, Nkari, Annang, Ibibio |
Ariam/Usaka is one of the four principal clans of Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. [1] [2] Ariam/Usaka belongs to the Isuogu family. Ariam itself is made up of three subgroups namely; Ariam, Ekpiri and Usaka. [3] This clan borders Ibere and Oboro to the north, Oloko to the west, as well as several Ibibio communities in Akwa Ibom State to its eastern and southern borders. Forde and Jones categorized the Isuogu family (Ariam/Usaka and Oloko) in the Ohuhu-Ngwa cluster of the Southern Igbo area. [4]
Ariam migrated from Ugwuala in Abam and Usaka from Ora Obara also in Abam. The first settler in Ekpiri was called Onyeike Ukwumbe from Ubaha in Nsulu Ngwa (popularly called Umu Osaji) in the Old Aba Province. They drove away the Annang inhabitants and settled at Ariam Ala-Ala. Later, the scarcity of land made them warriors who drove the Annang group further southwest to Nto Ndang and Ita Ikpo. The new settlement was named Ariam Elu-Elu. [3]
The Ariam people celebrate the Ekpe festival; an event marked by the other three groups in Ikwuano. Local wrestling tournaments are also organized. They speak the Igbo language but have their own dialect. [5]
Ariam/Usaka is made up of 15 villages namely;
• Amaegbu
• Ariam Elu-Elu
• Azunchai
• Ekpiri Ala-Ala
• Ekpiri Elu-Elu
• Ekwelu
• Ndieke
• Ndiokoro
• Ndiorie
• Obugwu
• Obeama
• Oboni
• Upa
• Usaka Ukwu [6]
Over the years, the Ariam/Usaka community has continuously been involved in bloody boundary skirmishes with her Akwa Ibom neighbors. For instance, in February 2021, as many as 16 people were reportedly killed, with six others missing in Usaka Ukwu, Azunchai, Ekpiri Ala-Ala and Ariam Elu-Elu and among their Nkari and Obot Akara neighbors in Ini and Obot Akara LGAs of Akwa Ibom State respectively. Other communities affected by the boundary clash were Oboni, Upa, Ndiorie, Obugwu and Ekwelu. [7] [8]
• Oloko
Akwa Ibom State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria on the east by Cross River State, on the west by Rivers State and Abia State, and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean. The state takes its name from the Qua Iboe River which bisects the state before flowing into the Bight of Bonny. Akwa Ibom was split from Cross River State in 1987 with its capital Uyo and with 31 local government areas.
The Anaang are an ethnic group in southern Nigeria, whose land is primarily within 8 of the present 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State: Abak, Essien Udim, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara, Oruk Anam, Ukanafun in Akwa Ibom State. The Anaang are the second largest ethnic group in Akwa Ibom state.
Abak is a town and Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The LGA was previously part of Cross River State. It was later sub divided into other local government areas such as Oruk Anam, Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun and Ika. Notable tribes include the Annang. The major economic activities of the people of this area before and after the Nigerian civil war was palm produce exported through river port at Ekpene Okpo, Ntak Ibesit, a distance of about 8 km from Abak town. Abak town, the local government headquarters is located about 18 kilometres from Uyo, the State capital. It has a landmass of 304 square kilometers. Abak to say the least, is the shadow of its former self due to politically motivated neglect by successive governments in Akwa Ibom state. Abak was the economic hub of the former Southeastern Nigeria before the civil war. The Nigerian Army barrack that is popularly known as Ibagwa Barrack is located or can be found in the Abak.
The Aro people or Aros are an Igbo subgroup that originated from the Arochukwu kingdom in present-day Abia state, Nigeria. The Aros can also be found in about 250 other settlements mostly in the Southeastern Nigeria and adjacent areas. The Aros today are classified as Eastern or Cross River Igbos because of their location, mixed origins, culture, and dialect. Their god, Chukwu Abiama, was a key factor in establishing the Aro Confederacy as a regional power in the Niger Delta and Southeastern Nigeria during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Ibom or Mbot Abasi Kingdom was an Ibibio nation with its seat of government in Obot Okon Ita. The Mbot Abasi kingdom was located in present day Arochukwu, Abia State in Nigeria. Around 1630, an Igbo group from Abiriba known as the Eze Agwu arrived to Ibom. This caused a long term conflict and stalemate known as the Aro-Ibibio Wars.
Obot-Akara is in the south of Nigeria and is a Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Ikwuano is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in Isiala Oboro. The name 'Ikwuano' etymologically indicates that there are four different ancient kingdoms that make up the community called Ikwuano. These include Oboro, Ibere, Ariam/Usaka and Oloko.
Umudike is a semi-urban settlement in Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area in Abia State, Nigeria. It is about 11 kilometers southeast of Umuahia, the state's capital city. It is home to the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture and the National Root Crops Research Institute. Umudike is composed of two autonomous communities which are Umudike and Umudike Ukwu.
Elemaga is a small farming village in Ibere, Ikwuano, Abia State, Nigeria. Elemaga is located in the center of Inyila, Isiala Ibere, Ahia Orie, Iberenta, Itunta and Obuoru at the food belt of Ibere, about 15 km southwest of Umuahia, the Abia State capital. Elemaga is believed to be derived syntactically from the words Ele ("look"), Ma ("well") and Ga ("go") which literally means "look well before you go". Climate is tropical monsoon.
Oloko is one of the four clans that make up Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Oloko is from the Isuogu group. It borders Oboro to the north, Olokoro and Ngwa to the west, Ariam/Usaka to the east and Ikono; a clan in Akwa Ibom State to its south. Oloko is one of 18 Igbo clans of the Old Bende Division. It was classified in the Ohuhu-Ngwa cluster of the Southern Igbo area.
Oboro is the largest of four clans in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. It is bounded to the north by Ibeku and Bende clans, west by the Olokoro and Ngwa, east by Ibere and south by the Isuogu. Oboro was classified in the Ohuhu-Ngwa cluster of the Southern Igbo area by British anthropologists Forde and Jones. It is also one of 18 Igbo clans in the Old Bende Division of the defunct Owerri Province. The Oboro speak a common language with the other 17 clans of the Bende Division though dialectal variations exist. These clans share a history of inter-ethnic relations.
Ndoro is a town in Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. It is about 16 km southeast from the state capital, Umuahia and is located along the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road.
Ibere is a clan located in the eastern part of Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. It borders Oboro to the west, Bende to the north, the Isuogu to the south, Itumbauzo and Nkari to the east. It is one of 18 Igbo clans of the Old Bende Division. Ibere was classified in the Ohuhu-Ngwa cluster of the Southern Igbo area by Forde and Jones.
Ahaba is a rural community in Oloko, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Isiala Ahaba and Ahaba Ukwu are the autonomous communities of Ahaba. Ahaba is 23km south of Umuahia, Abia State's capital city.
Nchara is an agrarian community in Oloko, Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. It is composed of two sister villages namely; Akanu and Etoruo. Afa Ukwu is the autonomous community of Nchara. It is about 24 km away from the state capital, Umuahia.
Ariam Ala-Ala is a village in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. It is one of 15 localities of the Ariam/Usaka clan. The community is located along the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road and is about 27 km away from the state capital, Umuahia.
Obuohia is a village in Ibere, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Obuohia is the largest village of the Ibere clan and third largest in Ikwuano. It is part of the Obi Ibere Autonomous Community and doubles as the capital. Obuohia is 27km east of Umuahia, Abia State's capital.
Ekwelu is a village in the Ariam/Usaka community of Ikwuano Local Government Area in Abia State, Nigeria. It belongs to the Agumba Autonomous Community. HRH Eze Joseph Obaji is the paramount ruler of Agumba. Ekwelu is 31km south of Umuahia, the state capital and is situated along the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Federal Road.
Itunta is a village in Ibere, Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. Itunta falls under the Umuakoo Autonomous Community. The Eze of Umuakoo is HRM Eze Monday Unadindu Okoro in whom is conferred with the title of Akoo II of Umuakoo. Itunta is renowned for her vast cocoa production.
Ogbuebulle is a village in Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. The community is situated along the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road. It is about 20km away from Umuahia, the capital of Abia State. Ogbuebulle is part of the Ala-Ala Oboro Autonomous Community alongside Ekebedi, its neighboring village.