Arochukwu
About
Arochukwu is a historic city and local government area in Abia State, southeastern Nigeria. It is the third largest local government area in Abia State and the homeland of the Aro people, a subgroup of the Igbo. It is composed of five clans: Abam, Aro, Ihechiowa, Ututu and Isu.
History
Before Igbo arrival, a group of proto Ibibio migrated to the area and established the Ibom Kingdom. The first Igbo settlers, the Eze Agwu group, later arrived and tensions with the indigenous Ibibio led to the Aro-Ibibio Wars. Allied with Akpa forces, the rebellious group captured the area and formed an alliance of 19 states known as the Arochukwu kingdom around 1650–1700. By the mid-18th century the Aro Confederacy had become a regional economic power, until the Anglo-Aro War from 1901 to 1902 ended in the Aro Confederacy's defeat and British occupation of much of what is now Eastern Nigeria.
Source: Wikipedia: Arochukwu
Key Facts
State
Abia State
Area
524 km²
Population
169,339 (2006)