Etche

Coordinates: 4°59′27″N 7°03′16″E / 4.990833°N 7.054444°E / 4.990833; 7.054444

Etche is a Local Government Area (LGA) in Rivers State, Nigeria, named after the Etche ( Echie) people of Southern Nigeria. The Etche are Igbo people and they speak Igbo language. They also inhabit Omuma LGA; Etche/Omuma is a National Assembly constituency.

Etche communities include Akwu/Obuor, Chokocho, Chokota, Egwi, Afara, Mba, Ikwerengwo, Okehi, Ulakwo, Umuakonu, Umuebulu, Umuechem, egbeke Igbodo the ancestral home of Etche (Igbodo is made up o the following communities; Umuohiaukwu, Umuusharam, Umuoga, Okonocho, Umuine, Umudi, Umunkwa, Umuohie, Amaku, Obibi, Ezeleaka, Umuisi].

People

Etche is the first settler or founder of “Etche” land. One oral tradition has it that he is a man called “Echefu”, who was corruptly named “Etche”. Another version says that his name is “Eche”, whose name was anglicized or colonially spelt “Etche”. But one thing is clear; whether the name is “Etche”, “Ochie”, “Eche”, “Echefu”, or “Etche”, it is referring to one and the same person called “ETCHE”, “ECHEFU”, “ECHIE”, “ECHE”, “OCHIE” who is the forebear or ancestor of all Etche people East, West, North, South and ethnic nationality that is spread across three (3) of Nigeria, viz: Rivers, Abia, and Imo States and possibly Delta and Edo, Onyema (2000). It has four (4) know Local Governments (two in Rivers State and two in Imo State) with a heavy presence in Abia State.