Arochukwu: History
Before Igbo arrival in the Aro territory, a group of proto Ibibio migrated to the area and established the Ibom Kingdom during the Bantu expansion. This proto Ibibio group originally came from Usak Edet (Isanguele), a segment of the Ejagham in present-day Southern Cameroon. The first Igbo settlers to arrive to the area was the Eze Agwu Group led by their leader Agwu Inobia from Abiriba. Tensions between the Igbo settlers and the indigenous Ibibio led to the Aro-Ibibio Wars. The Efik were originally from the Ibom Kingdom and might have left before or during the Aro-Ibibio Wars. The war was initially a stalemate and the Eze Agwu group eventually invited a priest named Nnachi from the Edda clan of northeastern Igboland. Eze Agwu and Nnachi allied with prince Akakpokpo Okon of the Ibom Kingdom. Akakpokpo Okon was the son of a marriage between an Igbo women of the Eze Agwu clan and the King Obong Okon Ita in an attempt of a peace treaty. The Eze Agwu/Nnachi faction decided to help Akakpokpo attempt to overthrow his brother king Akpan Okon. Nnachi invited the Akpa people from the east of the Cross River. The Akpa forces led by Osim and Akuma Nnubi, helped the rebellious group capture the rest of the area. This formed the alliance of 19 new and old states in the area known as the Arochukwu kingdom around 1650–1700. The first king (or Eze Aro) of a unified Arochukwu was Akuma but after his death, Nnachi son's Oke Nnachi took over and his descendants have the throne to this day.
By the mid-18th century, Arochukwu people founded many other communities both within and outside Igboland. These migrations, influence of their god Ibini Ukpabi through priests, and their military power backed up by alliances with several related neighboring Igbo and eastern Cross River militarized states (particularly Ohafia, Abam, Abiriba, Ihechiowa, Afikpo, Ekoi, etc.) quickly established the Aro Confederacy as a regional economic power. However, Aro economic hegemony was threatened by the penetration of Europeans, mainly British colonists in the wake of the 20th century. Tensions finally led to bloodshed and the Anglo-Aro War took place from 1901 to 1902. The Aro Confederacy stoutly resisted but were eventually defeated. This helped the British to occupy the rest of what is now known as Eastern Nigeria.
Abam is a populated Igbo clan in Abia state. It is located in Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency of Nigeria. Abam is the biggest clan by population and landmass in Arochukwu LGA, and one of the biggest clan in Abia North senatorial district.
Abam is a brother clan to Ohafia, as both Abam and Ohafia share a common ancestry, culture, dialect etc.The progenitor of the people of Abam is known as Onyerubi Atita. As a people, Abam clan in Abia state is sometimes referred to as Abam Onyerubi. …