THE NIGER DELTA
The Niger Delta can be divided into sections; these are the Western Delta and the Eastern Delta. The Western Delta The groups within the Western Delta include the Ijo, Itsekiri and Aboh who dwell in the lower Delta and the Isoko, Urhobo and Ukwani who live in the upper Delta. Both sections had different vegetations; the upper Delta was characterised by evergreen forest dominated by the oil palm while the lower was located within the dense mangrove. Vegetation determined the occupation of both sections: thus, the upper Delta groups were engaged mainly in farming and fishing on one side, while those of the lower were engaged in fishing and salt…
RELATIONS BETWEEN IGBO AND THE NIGER DELTA STATES
The non-centralised states of the Igbos of the South-eastern Nigeria interacted actively with close and distant neighbours like the Igala, Bini and Ijo. Some Igbo communities such as Nri and the Arochukwu had more influence and interactions outside their areas. The Arochukwu commercial and religious influences played important roles in determining the relationship between the Igbo communities and their non-Igbo neighbours. The Arochukwu oracle of “Long Juju” was believed to have developed out of a local Ibibio shrine, Ibritam in the Cross River estuary. The Arochukwu concentrated on trade and spiritual services from neighbouring communities to carry out their lucrative commercial activities with the people of Bende and Uburu. Furthermore,…
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