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.

The Ekemeku War was the longest resistance against British imperialism in Biafra.

- Nigerian-Biafran War

Some of the Biafran war commanders were of Anioma origin but the most famous of them all were Colonel Joseph Oseloka "Hannibal" Achuzie (Retd) and Capt. Anuku, who was the commander of Biafran Navy.

Achuzie was a militiaman who played active roles in the invasion of Midwestern region which included his home town, Asaba.

Achuzie can again be remembered for the very active roles he played in the defense of Onitsha against series of attacking efforts made by Colonel Murtala Mohammed to take over the city and constitute threat to the Biafran bids.

He was often accused of propaganda gem.

There was also Colonel (Later Brigadier) Conrad Nwawo another Anioma indigene who was Administrative Officer, Biafran Army Headquarters, former Divisional commander of the Biafran Army and a one time Nigerian Defence Attache in London.

Others are Major Ananaba who effectively defended the main Uzuakoli-Umuahia road which was effectively achieved, Colonel Michael Okwechime was another Division commander of the Biafran army and once the Adjutant-General.

Colonel Ben Nwajei formerly of the 53 Brigade was the first commander of the 14 Division, as the commander of 53 Brigade he never lost any battle for a relatively short time. He finally captured Oguta for Biafra.

He was soon removed from command of 14 Division and all military duties by Colonel Ojukwu after he lost Owerri and told some members of delegates that visited him that it was so because he had no ammunition.

Ojukwu accused him of demoralizing the civilians and attached him to Civilian Fuel Directorate. There still numerous numbers of Anioma indigenes who commanded the Biafran Army.


- Civil War Genocide

The genocide of Anioma by Gen. Murtala Mohammed and Major Gen. Ibrahim Haruna (Retd), during the Nigerian Civil War started on the 21 of September, 1967 on the recapture of Benin City from the Biafrans sweeping large Anioma towns of Asaba, Ogwashi-Uku, Ibusa, Otutu, Ishiagu, Igbodo, Aboh and Ushisha but the massacres carried out in Asaba remains the most severe and unforgettable in which mostly helpless women, youths and children were killed in rapidity by the federal troops.

It has been noted that the massacres were organized and mostly carried out under the supervision of Maj Gen Ibrahim Haruna (Retd) and the reason was that Gen Murtala Muhammed was aggrieved and suspicious of the Anioma as having aided their Igbo kinsmen to invade the Mid west.

Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Retd) the then Head of State would later apologize to the Igbo community, while Major-General Ibrahim Haruna, the General officer Commanding (GOC) Two Division of the Army during the Civil War while testifying at the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission Panel aka Oputa Panel held in 2004, insistently maintained that he had no regret for the Asaba massacres in which the Igbo were killed by his troops since it was motivated by sense of duty to protect the unity of the country, he stated this under cross examination by Ohanaeze Ndiigbo group.

Anioma in Ohanaeze Ndiigbo

On November 29, 2008, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization announced the election of Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, an Anioma indigene as its President-General to pilot its affairs for the next two years.

He was nominated by Delta State branch of Ohanaeze as their consensus candidate in a resolution reached at the palace of the Asagba of Asaba after the position was zoned to Anioma, one of the seven units that make up Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

But in his acceptance speech, Uwechue expressed gratitude to all and called for unity among Igbo, which is said to possess the talent to and wealth it would take to take to address national issues, while also noting that the position given to him has created confidence that the Igbo from Delta State are accepted as brothers and sisters in Ohanaeze.

Finally, he promised not to disappoint Anioma people as the race is for Anioma home and abroad.



- Notable Anioma People

Chief. Sonny Iwedike Odogwu, A Great Business Mogul

Dr. Andrew Azukaego Moemeka

Dr. Cyril Uchenna Gwam, Diplomat, international civil servant and international environmentalist

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the current Managing Director of World Bank

Dr Elizabeth Isichei, prominent historian

Dr. Isaac Nwaise, Epidemiologist and health economist

Chief Chris Agbobu, Former Minister Of State for Defence and Agric/Rural Dev. Ministries

Air-Marshal Paul Dike, former Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria

Professor Augustine Onwuyali Esogbue, The only African included in NASA and Scientist

Professor Buchi Emecheta, London Based Author

Chukwurah Joseph Udeh OFR, Former Comptroller-General Nigerian Immigration Service

Prof Eric Opia, Former Governorship candidate of Delta State

Mr Jim Ovia, M/D Zenith Bank

Prof. Joy Ogwu, Former Mangaging Director of Nigeria Institute of International Affairs

Professor Pat Utomi, Presidential Candidate and Founder of Lagos Business SchoolTony Elumelu, MD of United Bank for Africa

Chief Philip Asiodu, Former Federal Minister

Obi senator Nosike Ikpo, Former Senator of the Federal Republic

Chief Sabastine Adigwe, former MD, Afribank NIgeria PLC

Godswill Obielum, Former Governorship Aspirant, Delta State

Peter Okocha, Governorship Aspirant, Delta State and Business Mongul

Eddy Egwuenu, Distinguished and accomplished banker,Co-founder Zenith Bank

Austine "Jay-Jay Okocha, Former Captain of Super Eagles of Nigeria

Sunday Olise, Former Captain and Coach of super Eagles of Nigeria (Who said he's more of a Lagosian)

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, Former Super Eagles captain and Malian National Football Team Coach

Nduka Ugbade, Nigeria's former football player and the first African to lift the world cup

Demas Nwoko, Prominent Sculptor of Nigeria

Jude Chukwudi Dike, energy economist and prominent youth leader

Henry Ogochukwu, President General Anioma People's Association and the Presedent Skill and Ideas Development Initiatives

Dr. Newton Jibunor, The famous Sahara traveller

Nduka Odizor, Former Lawn tennis Player

Bonny B. N. Umeadi PhD, Technologist and Inventor of Micro/Nanosensor Devices to monitor oil and gas pipeline system

Dr Uche Honnah, President of Anioma, USA

Arc. Kester Ifeadi, Chairman/CEO Contemporary Group and President Organisation For the Advancement of Anioma Culture(OFAAC)
Engr. Emma Onyekwene, MD/CEO, Coolman Oil Services
Oga Phillip Ijeh, Shift Manager Apm terminals


We are Oriental Times and we say it just the way it is.

http://www.otimestv.com/2016/03/revelation-anioma-is-biafra-things-you.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

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Anioma is igboland west of the niger!! Bia-frra is not igbo rather igbo is part and parcel of bia-frra land! PERIOD!!

You don't need to bother too much.. They all know now..

Hitting the nail at the head...

Now the haters gonna be like crying...lol

Ndidi Odogwu known as late Mariam Babangida was Chief Sunny Odogwu's sister...Anioma!

i don't know does those names sounds "Rukewe" or erowho..those are core igbo names.

The great Igbo tribe.
. .- Lord Lugard

Now they have made their point

I wonder how non igbo wil come and tell us who is igbo or not


This is just madness