Igbo-Speaking Communities in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Other States outside Southeast, Nigeria

Every tribe or ethnicity has its unique features that distinguish it from others. In Nigeria, there are no fewer than two fifty ethnic groups made up of divergent cultural heritage and belief systems. These tribes, however, coexist despite several ups and downs confronting the peaceful goal of such a multi-ethnic entity.

Thus, generations have come and gone but the uniqueness of the various tribes still stands the test of time thereby being transmitted from one generation to another though not without some loss of grip with the curtain authenticity of a people. There are visible enabling characteristics of Ndi Igbo, that differentiate them from other tribes in Nigeria and the world at large. Apart from the Igbo Language, the food they eat, as well as their exceptional intellect in running businesses, the dress code of the Igbo women is glaringly one major feature that points them out wherever they are seen. To this effect, a typical Igbo woman ties two pieces of wrapper, unlike other tribes that tie a piece of wrapper to events or occasions of any kind.

Igbo people are seen virtually in every part of the world actively engaged in one business or another. They are not the weak nor the lily-livered. They are energetic, innovative, and peaceful types of people who contribute immensely to the growth and development of any community they find themselves in.

Some narratives offer that Igbo people migrated from Israel and that just like the story of the Biblical Jews, Ndi Igbo are undoubtedly scattered throughout the universe.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria, there are different parts of some States outside the five Igbo-speaking states in the eastern part of the country(Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, and Abia), including Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Kogi, and the Delta States where the Igbo people are the inhabitants of communities and dominant in such communities.

Ohaobu Ndoki Igbos in Akwa Ibom

Ohaobu used to be part of the old Imo State (from which Abia State was created in 1991). In 1987, the village was made part of the old Cross River State (from which Akwa Ibom State was created shortly after) by the Federal Government.

The Akwa Ibom State Government in its Gazette (2000), which this writer sighted, recognizes the village as Ikot Inyang Udo II. This is the name Ohaobu’s Annang neighbors in Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo LGAs call the village. But the Ohaobu people reject this name. ( You can’t erase Igbo identity because of a state, identity has been in existence before the creation of states

Just like how Igbo-Akiri in Edo State was changed to Igbanke – to erase the trace of Igboness

Igbos in Kogi.
Akpanya people
Akpanya is an Igbo-speaking community located deep in the heartland of Igala land. About 95% of the people who speak are Igbo natives. The town also houses the majority of Igbo Muslims from Igboland. There is also an Igala-speaking community in Enugu. Same way we have indigenous Igbos in Kogi we have indigenous Igalas in Enugu and Anambra

Igbos in Cross River
The Isobos, The Igbo Speaking Tribe Of Obubra LGA Of Cross River State. The largest LGA in Cross River with Igbo-speaking natives is the Abi Local Government area. Former Gov Imoke is from there. Few villages that Igbo on Cross River

Igbo Imabana Agbo, Igbo
Eboronyi Agbo, Ikwo-Igbo, Igbo
Agarabe Humono, Igbo
Itigidi Ikwo-Igbo