The historic migrations in Esanland happened in different phases.

Phase 1,1000BC – 5.00A.D. Migration from a nucleus somewhere in the Niger Benue confluence area, Uhe with similar language speakers that fanned out into the land due to overflow of the river. Those part of the migration were the ancestors of Esan, Idu-Igodomigodo-Benin, Owan, Esako, Urhobo, Isoko, Iyayu-Idoani, Engenni, Degema, Epie-Atisa etc. They all moved into the hills of the Akoko Edo, which is the southern part of the confluence (Elugbe, 1976). The earliest people of Esako moved from the hills to settle in Esako area, the Aniyamegbe, Ugbamhe and Okwu. The Ora-Emai-luleha moved to settle in Owan and the Iyayu-Idoani people moved to settled in Ondo State.
From the hills of Akoko Edo, the ancestors of Esan, Idu-Igodomigodo-Benin, Urhobo, Isoko, Degema, Engeni, Epie and others moved southward and were scattered around the forest savannah mosaic on the northern scarp of the Esan plateau. In a half millennium years ago, 500AD; the cultural evolution started, and they started building mini kingdoms, which is called Iyala (Darling, 1984).

Phase 11, 500A.D – 12 Century A.D. Some of the inhabitants of the forest started migrating from Esan forest due to lack of streams or rivers towards the southern plateau forest. Some settled in Iduland-Igodomigodo-Benin; Isoko, Degema, Engeni others moved towards the Niger Delta Area, while the Urhobos later immigrate from Igodomigodo to Warri Area. Similar, the three children of Ojiso Owodo, the last Ojiso that reigned in Igodomigodo migrated to Uromi, Uzea and Ekperi respectively with their mother Queen Oakha to found these areas in 10 century A.D. Furthermore, another migration happened around 12 century into Irrua from Ifeku -Island, the Igala’s.

Phase 111, 12 Century – 1460 A.D. Around 12 century A.D, Orominyan who is the ancestor of the Oba of Benin migrated from ille ife in Osun State via Osse/Ovia River to Igodomigodo (Egharevba, 1936). The Usen people in Edo South also migrated from ille ife at the same time, and few families that migrated along with him who are mostly settled in Ogbe Benin City. In 14 century, there was a reversed migration because of the harsh rules, Ewuare 1, imposed on his stool. A lot of refugee’s troop in back to Esanland which was known as Okpebholo as at then to meet the aborigines for protection. The Uzaire people of Esako, Auchi people in Esako, Okpella people in Esako, Agbede people in Esako, other Owan settlements also migrated the same time. Majority of the refugees that came to Okpehbolo/
Esanland immigrate from Idumoza in Igodomigdo. Others from, Iduigun, Udo etc (Okojie, 1953).
Reference

Darling, P. J. (1988). Emerging Towns in Benin and Ishan (Nigeria) AD 500–1500. State and Society. The Emergence and Development of Social Hierarchy and Political Centralization, 121-136.

Darling, P.J.: Archaeology and History in Southern Nigeria. The Ancient Linear Earthworks of Benin and Ishan. Pt. I-II. - Oxford 1984.

ELUGBE, B. (2017). ED0 (BINI) IN THE POLYGLOTTA AFRICANA. African Languages/Langues Africaines: Volume 2 1976, 24, 145.

Egharevba, J. U. (1936). A short history of Benin. Ibadan University Press.

Okojie, C. G. (1953). Esan native laws and customs with ethnographic studies of the Esan people. Benin City, Ilupeju.