Igbanke is an Igbo community in Edo State. They are of the Ika people family stock in Delta State, Nigeria, which also constitutes Agbor, and up to the border towns of Alifekede (Ala Ifekede) down to Umunede. Today's Igbanke village is constituted by Omoluah, Obiogba, Idumuiru, Igbontor, Idumodin, Ake, Oligie and Ottah, all of which have different histories of migration. The people have organized various movements to change the name of the town back to "Igbo Akiri", which is its true name.

The government of Igbanke is presided over by Eze, Dei (Dim), odiowere (ndi owere), Ndichie, Dikens (Dike), okhiolors (okenye ulo), and Okhialis (okenye ala). Each of these heads has his jurisdiction. The jurisdiction could be stratified into three: The family level, the clan or hamlets and the villages. At the family level, the okhilor (he is usually the oldest man in the family) presides. At the village quarters, the okhilor is the head, while the eze rules over the entire village. Igbanke is chiefly a patrilineal society and as such its women are seen as performing passive roles. The language spoken in Igbanke is the Ika dialect of Igbo.

1)Most Igbanke indigenes who have Ika ancestral names like, “Emeka”, “Maduka”, “Chukwuka’’, “Chinyere”, “Amaka and “Ogorchukwu etc are often confronted with all forms of harrowing experiences when there are needs to visit our council headquarters, Abudu to process one official documents or the other. We are often denied the issuance of documents like, ‘’Certificate of Local Government of origin’’, Protest Letter’’, To Whom it May Concern’’ etc on the guise that we are Igbos not Binis.
2) Those who have the likes of the Ika aforementioned names, but can speak Bini language are rarely subjected to the above embarrassments and discriminations. This act goes a long way to vindicate our fear that there is a subtle, but carefully planned agenda to make us lose and abandon our ancestral linguistic and cultural heritage.
3) In order to escape from these unnecessary embarrassments, some have no other option left than to change their identity from Ika to Bini names.
4) Today, we, the good people of Igbanke are gradually losing our once envied linguistic and cultural identity.
5) Some of the eminent sons and daughters of Igbanke, whom out of their outstanding contributions to the development of the community, were recognized and given chieftaincy titles had had such titles changed from their original Ika origin to Bini equivalence. For example, few years ago, one of our sons who addressed himself as “Chief Orike-Eze” in Oba of Benin palace was shamefully harassed, insulted and forcefully forced, right in the palace to change the title to its Bini version. According to the palace, the title, “Orike-Eze” had its origin from Ika and Igbo nations.
5) Most times, when we have cause to attend meetings with the Binis in our local government area or senatorial district, deliberations are often conducted in Bini in language without considering the fact that the people of Igbanke in such meeting neither speak nor understand the language. Often than not, when we attend such meetings, we left the venue more confused than we were before we went.
6) In Edo state, Igbanke is only tolerated, not respected, seen, but not accepted. Today, in Edo state, plans are underway by the state Ministry of Education to introduce the teaching of Bini language in Primary and Secondary schools across Edo south senatorial district including Igbanke. Unfortunately, our indigenous language, Ika is not in any way considered qualified and appropriate to be taught in schools in Igbanke. To us, its another deliberate attempt to send our linguistic identity into extinction.
7) Our people have also suffered several inexplicable discriminations when it comes to political appointments. During the 2013 Edo state local government elections, one of our sons, Mr. Peter Ikem was refused to contest the chairmanship position in Orhionmwon local government area. Reason? His surname, “Ikem” was an Igbo, not Bini name.

PRAYERS/ RELIEFS SOUGHT
Sir, based on the foregoing, we therefore, solemnly ask for the folling:
1) A local government be created that would comprise all Ika speaking communities scattered in Orhionmwon, Uhunmwode and Igueben LGAs of Edo state. Some of the Ika speaking communities in Edo stateinclude:
Orhionmwon LGA —-Igbanke, Iru, Ohezenaka, Otobaye, Ugbeka
Uhunmwode LGA —– Oghada
Igueben LGA ——- Ekpon

2) Where, for any reason, creation of a local government area that would consist all Ika speaking communities is not in the immediate possible or feasible, we therefore ask that Igbanke be severed from Edo state and merged with our kiths and kins in Ika south local government area in Delta state.
3) The people of Igbanke should be seen, recognized and accepted as Ika people residing in Edo.
4) That Igbanke people, based on our forceful membership of Edo state, reserved the natural and inalienable right to decide, at any time, either to continue our membership with the Binis in Edo state or join our Ika kiths and kins in Delta state.

CONCLUSION
Igbanke is an Ika speaking community in Orhionmwon local government, Edo state
We, the people Igbanke are gradually losing our linguistic and cultural identity as a result of our forceful membership with the Binis through conquest.
If urgent measures are not taken, our linguistic and cultural identity would sooner than later go into sudden extinction. In order to avoid the impending extermination of our race, we therefore, ask that a local government area be created that would consist of Igbanke and other Ika speaking communities in Edo state.
Alternatively, if local government creation is not feasible or possible, Igbanke, should therefore, be severed from Edo state and merged with Ika south local government area in Delta stat

Thats how these benin people want to claim us we Aniomas and even went ahead trying to rewrite our history inorder to put an identity crisis... SMH
I prefer doing things with Urhobo neighbours(though we don't trust each other 100%) than the Edos..

It is good to read and sea that young Igbo chaps in places like Igbanke (Igbo Akiri) have begun to grow taproots toward their true ancestral homeland and identity.

Duru1:
It is good to read and sea that young Igbo chaps in places like Igbanke (Igbo Akiri) have begun to grow taproots toward their true ancestral homeland and identity.

"A leaf that falls off a tree will be blown around by any kind of wind"..
We Delta Igbos can't sit down and watch these Edo land grabbers rewrite our history.. If they try it, Heads will ROLL..
They want to use style and claim Asaba but we are watching them.

The difference between Igbanke Igbo claims and Ikwerre Bini claims is the obvious evidence in language, culture and names. Oguta Bini claims is equally provable with some traits and nomenclature.

Let the anti Biafra warlords come and vent their venom.

Igbanke is Biafra land; Nnamdi Kanu has said that several times and I am glad the natives are waking up.


IPOB Youth

Biafra ancestor

op absolutely on point

Igbanke should have been part of delta state in the first place.

tociano009:
Biafra ancestor

lol.... You bad ooo

Let their cRies be heard and something done about it biko

Yawns.........all these ipod yoots sef

And the land grappling continues.
Waiting for season 8 finale.

PUSIDRILA:
Yawns.........all these ipod yoots sef

Omo expect ban ooooo.
We get one iPod mod here.
Dey guy give one week ban for something like this.

land grabbers!

Confusionist:
land grabbers!

Broken Record.

tochukwuifeduba:


1)Most Igbanke indigenes who have Ika ancestral names like, “Emeka”, “Maduka”, “Chukwuka’’, “Chinyere”, “Amaka and “Ogorchukwu etc are often confronted with all forms of harrowing experiences when there are needs to visit our council headquarters, Abudu to process one official documents or the other. We are often denied the issuance of documents like, ‘’Certificate of Local Government of origin’’, Protest Letter’’, To Whom it May Concern’’ etc on the guise that we are Igbos not Binis.

The town in bolded probably now explains better why Biafran Rebels decided to kill every Non-Ibo speaking person in the area during the war of secession.




http://rethinkingbiafra..com/2012/10/biafran-war-crimes-horror-in-midwest.html?m=1

It is time for igbo pan organisation to stand up and defend our brothers across the Niger.

splashbaby:
Igbanke should have been part of delta state in the first place.

how about ekpon an Esan town that speak both Ika and Esan?

This is the reason why your Biafra dream is not achievable.

98% of Igbankes and 80% of Agbor bear Benin names till date those without Benin names are the settlers from the Eastern Region.

Stick to your other side of the River Niger. Enjoy your Biafra but do not trespass Edo Land abi una wan add Urhonigbe too?

Yeye dey smell.

splashbaby:
Igbanke should have been part of delta state in the first place.

Ask why Igbankes fought tooth and nail to remain in Edo State instead of Delta.

The real Ika's will NEVER use the words Edo is rewriting our history. You guys knows nothing about the history of Ika.

Born2Breed:
This is the reason why your Biafra dream is not achievable.

98% of Igbankes and 80% of Agbor bear Benin names till date those without Benin names are the settlers from the Eastern Region.

Stick to your other side of the River Niger. Enjoy your Biafra but do not trespass Edo Land abi una wan add Urhonigbe too?

Yeye dey smell.

Igbo of today travel across the biggest ocean in the world to settle. What makes you think they didn't cross ordinary river Niger to reside on the other side.

SharkTank:



Igbo of today travel across the biggest ocean in the world to settle. What makes you think they didn't cross ordinary river Niger to reside on the other side.

@ The bolded. Not the Igbos of yesterday.

Born2Breed:


@ The bolded. Not the Igbos of yesterday.

Are you sure you have a point? Lol

o42austino:
It is time for igbo pan organisation to stand up and defend our brothers across the Niger.

Ohanaeze should be useful for once, they ought to give voice to our kith and kins who were unjustly made minorities in states like Edo & Benue!!

SharkTank:


Are you sure you have a point? Lol

Only the witless won't see the point. There are stories with verifiable facts of Binis moving to other part of Nigeria to start a new life, the northerners and even the yoruba's but none about the igbos. So correct me if I'm wrong if the igbos of yesteryears migration extended beyond the axis of River Niger and Benue.

OP harnessing lies just to sow discord. This is nothing but rubbish!

igbanke should have been part of delta. it's ogbemudia that curve it out to Benin because of his mother who is from igbanke