Idomoid · Nigeria’s peoples

Idoma

The Idoma are the second largest people of Benue State, in its lower western part, south of the Benue River.

At a glance

Where do the Idoma people live?: Their homeland is in Benue and Enugu States, across 7 local government areas. They are also a large share of Ado in Benue State.
What language do the Idoma speak?: Idoma, a language of the Idomoid family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Idomoid).
Who is the traditional ruler of the Idoma?: Och’Idoma, seated at Oturkpo.
Which kingdoms are part of Idoma history?: Kwararafa

Overview

The Idoma are the second largest people of Benue State, in its lower western part, south of the Benue River. The 2006 census counted about 1.3 million Idoma in Benue. Idoma tradition links them closely to the Igala: it holds that Onoja, founder of the Igala Kingdom, was born of the same ancestor.^[2],[3]High confidence

Where the Idoma live

Local government areas by state. Homeland: the group is the majority. Shared area: a large share of a mixed area. Smaller presence: present, but a small share.

Benue
- Agatu(Homeland)
- Apa(Homeland)
- Ogbadibo(Homeland)
- Ohimini(Homeland)
- Okpokwu(Homeland)
- Oturkpo(Homeland)
- Ado(Shared area)
- Gwer West(Smaller presence)
Enugu
- Igbo-Eze North(Homeland)
Nasarawa
- Doma(Smaller presence)
- Nasarawa(Smaller presence)
- Toto(Smaller presence)
Kogi
- Omala(Smaller presence)

Areas are approximate and show where people live. They are not claims of land ownership.

Communities beyond the homeland

Ette (Etteh, Eteh)

Igbo-Eze North, Enugu State: Ebiega Ette.^{[8],[9],[12],[10],[11]}High confidence

Eteh is a border clan of nine villages (Achanya, Ochigide, Aishi, Ebe, Emenebe or Ayinebe, Ijekpe, Ogilliama, Ogodo and Onodaba) on both sides of the Enugu and Kogi line, in Igbo-Eze North and Olamaboro. Its ruler, the Onu-Oda Adogo, is an Igala king. Tradition says Enwenwowo, a descendant of a son of the Attah, went to Idah and received the staff and title of Onu-Oda, and every Onu-Oda since has gone to Idah to be confirmed by the Attah. Most of the people claim Igala origin; Idoma and later Igbo settlers joined them.^[10],[11]

Otukpo

Oturkpo, Benue State.^[13],[14]High confidence

Headquarters of Idomaland and seat of the Och'Idoma. The railway reached Otukpo in 1923, and in 1924 the British moved the divisional headquarters here from Okpoga; the Idoma Native Authority was formed here.^[13],[14]

Ugboju

Oturkpo, Benue State: Ombi.^{[14],[15],[16]}High confidence

One of the Idoma kingdoms Idoma tradition dates to about 1650. Chief Amanyi led a rebellion against the British in 1910–1912 and was deported to Keffi; after an attack on the Hausa traders' quarter at Ombi in 1914 the British staged a bloody reprisal.^[14],[15]

Adoka

Oturkpo, Benue State.^[14],[15]High confidence

Founded, by Idoma tradition, around 1650. In 1907, after seven Hausa traders were killed in a fracas at Obena-Adoka, the British destroyed twenty-three Adoka villages.^[14],[15]

Agatu

Agatu, Benue State: Obagaji, Odugbeho.^{[17],[14],[15],[16]}High confidence

Idoma groups leaving Apa settled near the Benue here around 1500, by Idoma tradition. The Anglo-Idoma wars began here in 1899, when Major Maclintock's force burned Odugbeho; in 1901 the British set Madakin Amajo over Enugba, Enogaje and Ogbangede. Headquarters at Obagaji.^{[14],[15],[17]}

Farming: yams, cassava, rice, beans, sorghum and melon.^[17]

Edikwu

Apa, Benue State.^[18],[16]High confidence

Part of Apa, the name Idoma kindreds give to their ancestral home in old Kwararafa.^[18],[15]

Ugbokpo

Apa, Benue State.^[18],[16]High confidence

Headquarters of Apa LGA.^[18]

Onyagede

Ohimini, Benue State: Idekpa, Oglewu, Okpikwu, Amoke.^[19],[14]High confidence

The main district of Ohimini, on the Kogi border, with villages such as Amoke, Enumona, Ogodu, Awume, Ikpoke, Ogoli, Ugofu, Okpikwu, Oglewu and Idekpa. In 1912 Onyagede rebels killed Hausa traders and scribes and the British attacked in reprisal.^[19],[14]

Otukpa

Ogbadibo, Benue State.^{[20],[14],[16]}High confidence

Headquarters of Ogbadibo. In 1904 the Adoga clan here rose against British tax under Iyalla Atungwu; Trenchard's expedition annexed Otukpa in 1908 and the British made Awudu Elachi its district head.^[14],[20]

Owukpa

Ogbadibo, Benue State.^[20]High confidence

Orokam

Ogbadibo, Benue State.^[20]High confidence

Edumoga

Okpokwu, Benue State.^[21]High confidence

Edumoga's people say they came from Gwamaja in Kano country during the Kwararafa wars of 1600–1671, joined the confederacy at Apa, stayed at Abinsi, and lived at Idah until mistreatment by the Igala drove them on through Eguma near Ankpa and Ikobi to Okokolo. The name means “Ede begot Oga”. A chiefdom was created in 1923 with Ikwumonu Okpotu as the first Ede; the stool rotates among six clans, the Eke clan most senior.^[21]

Ichama

Okpokwu, Benue State.^[22],[16]High confidence

Ojigo

Okpokwu, Benue State.^[22],[16]High confidence

Okpoga

Okpokwu, Benue State: Ugbokolo.^[22],[14]High confidence

Headquarters of Okpokwu. The British made Okpoga the headquarters of the southern Idoma districts in 1910; Idoma Division was run from here until 1924.^[14],[22]

Igumale

Ado, Benue State.^{[5],[15],[16]}High confidence

One of the Idoma kingdoms founded around 1650, by tradition. It had the first missionary school in Idomaland, Methodist High School, Igumale.^[5],[15]

Agila

Ado, Benue State.^{[5],[14],[15]}High confidence

Founded around 1650 by Idoma tradition. Under colonial rule Agila was first in Abakaliki Province and was transferred to Okpoga (Idoma) Division in 1922.^[14],[15]

Ulayi

Ado, Benue State.^[16]High confidence

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