Orlu, Imo State: History
Orlu is considered the homeland of the Igbo people in Nigeria. The residents of Orlu are predominantly of Igbo ethnicity and speak the Isuama dialect of the Igbo language. The inhabitants of the region are known as the Orlu people, after the town, and are considered a distinct Igbo group. The name “Orlu” is derived from the Igbo words “Ọ̀lụ̀” (origin/source) and “ụlọ” (homeland), thus referring to a settlement of the ancestors. Major social and political changes took place in the 19th and early 20th centuries as a result of British colonization. Through the activities of missionaries, the ancient odinani religion was largely supplanted by Christianity. Around 1900, the town became an important hub for missionaries and traders.
During the Biafran War in the 1970s, Orlu served as the headquarters for various humanitarian aid organizations. Since Nigeria’s democratization in 1999, there has been an intensified struggle for self-determination among the region’s population. Consequently, there are calls for the Orlu region to secede from Imo and establish its own state. However, the initiative did not receive the support of the National Assembly until 2005, after which it failed due to political disagreements. In 2024, a bill to create the State of Orlu was introduced in the House of Representatives.