Anioma people

Anioma people are the indigenous Igbo people of Delta State. They make up about one-third of Delta State, and for administrative purposes they are referred to as Delta North thus contrasting Delta Central and Delta South densely inhabited by the Urhobo, Ukwuani, Isoko, Ijaw, and Itsekiri, the other ethnic groups inhabiting Delta State. The Anioma region has a total population of 1,114,055. The population figure quoted here does not include those of Anioma communities located outside Delta state. Anioma as you have it today are not all Some Anioma population can be found in neighboring Edo State specifically in Igbanke (Igbo Akiri), Oza and Ekpon. The term Anioma means 'Good Land' in Igbo and is also an acronym derived from the four original local governments i.e. (A) for Aniocha, (N) for Ndokwa, (I) for Ika, (O) for Oshimili, M and A are common denominators found in the four original local governments. The coinage was made by the founding father, Chief Dennis Osadebay in 1951 and has since remained the preferred indigenous name by which the people collectively refer to themselves. Thus, A-N-I-O-M-A. Sentimentally, there are also Anioma people in Anambra State i.e. Onitsha, Ogbaru, Akwukwu Obosi, Ozobulu, Ogidi. Some are in Imo State i.e. Oguta, Rivers State i.e. Ndoni. Anioma people who had one destiny prior to the coming of the Europeans were balkanized after they lost the Ekumeku War of resistance against the British imperialism in 1914 after 31 years of fighting.