Aro-Ibibio Wars

The Aro-Ibibio Wars were a series of conflicts between the Aro people (subgroup of the Igbo) and several Ibibio groups in present day Southeastern Nigeria from 1630 to 1720. These wars led to the foundation of the Arochukwu kingdom.

The Arochukwu conquest
For about a thousand years, the Ibibio lived in the area which later became Arochukwu. During their staying, they founded several states (Obong Okon Ita and Ibom) and had a strong cultural presence. Igbo migrants into the region, was led by the Eze Agwu clan in the mid-17th century. The Ibibios resisted these newcomers and this resulted in a stalemate. The Eze Awgu clan searched for ways to subdue the stiff Ibibio resistance. The Priest Nnachi from the Edda group near Afikpo, was called by their king Awgu Inobia (Eze Agwu) for help. When he arrived, Nnachi and Eze Agwu allied with prince Kakpokpo Okon of the Ibibio kingdom of Obong Okon Ita. Kakpokpo Okon was the son of a marriage between an Igbo women of the Eze Agwu clan and the King of Obong Okon Ita in an attempt of a peace treaty. The Eze Agwu/Nnachi faction decided to help Kakpokpo attempt to overthrow his brother king Akpan Okon. The coup was heavily resisted which called for even more help. Through Nnachi, an Eastern Cross river group answered the call for help. They were known as the Akpa. These warriors and traders, may have had European guns which were new to the Aro territory. Being the Igbo allies, the Akpas were led by the royal Nnubi family. Osim and Akuma Nnubi led Akpa soldiers to help fight against the Ibibios. Together with Igbo forces and Ibibio rebels, they defeated the Obong Okon Ita forces (1690). During the final battles, Osim Nnubi was slain in Oror city state making it the capital of Arochukwu. In Obinkita the remaining Ibibio warriors became prisoners and were judged and that is why the city state is the holder of the Ikeji festival. But at the end of the war, Osim and Kakpokpo were dead. In order to honor Osim's legacy, his brother Akuma was crowned the first EzeAro (king). After his death, Nnachi's descendants took the throne starting with his first son Oke Nnachi. The Arochukwu kingdom, was founded.

Aftermath
After Arochukwu was formed, it began to expand because of the growing population and territorial protection. Ibibio groups who were kicked out and their allies (Obot Mme, Mako, and etc.) sporadically attacked Arochukwu shortly after its formation. In order to neutralize Ibibio invasions, Aro forces formed vigilante camps which eventually grew into communities on the Arochukwu-Ibibio boundaries and repelled the invasions.

As the Arochukwu kingdom rose into a Confederacy of 19 states, the palm and slave trade became popular. Several Aro business families migrated to Ibibioland and established colonies. This helped to spread the influence of the Aro Oracle, Ibini Ukpabi. Some Aro merchants and mercenaries helped their Efik allies capture and sell many Ibibios and other groups as slaves to the Europeans.

During the 1890s, the Aro resisted British penetration in the hinterland. The Aro and their allies launched offensives against British allies in Igbo and Ibibioland until 1901. After failed negotiations, the British planned on capturing Igboland and Ibibioland through the Aro Confederacy in 1899. The tensions rose and resulted in the Anglo-Aro War (1901–1902). During the war, several friendly communities and local collaborators were utilized by British troops. Some of the communities were in the Ibibio areas around Itu which was one of four axes of advance by British troops to Arochukwu. It was also through Itu that Arochukwu was first invaded during the war. Aro forces were defeated in spring 1902.