History of the Idoma People

The origin of the name “Idoma” remains a mystery, but some believe it derives from a man called Idu Oma, regarded as the father of all Idoma people.

Historically, the Idoma people once lived as a community in Apa, a region located northeast of present-day Idoma land, in what is now southern Adamawa and northern Taraba. Evidence suggests that the Idoma have inhabited the Benue Valley for over 3,000 years. Another mysterious Idoma group, known as the Akpoto, is considered the earliest inhabitants of the region currently occupied by the Idoma, Tiv, Igala, Ebira, and Bassa peoples.

Historical accounts drawn from rites, songs, and folklore indicate that the Idoma civilization in Apa was highly developed, with a centralized government and advancements in warfare, trade, and craftsmanship. They likely engaged in trade with ancient Egypt, Nubia, and Nok before the rise of the Hausa city-states, Kanem-Bornu, and Kwararafa of the Jukuns. However, the emergence of these powerful kingdoms threatened the Idoma’s stability. Initially, an alliance was formed with the Jukuns, but conflicts arose, leading to military confrontations. The Idoma attacked the Hausa city-states of Zaria and Kano and attempted to capture Ngazargamu, the capital of the Kanem-Bornu Empire, but failed. This failure resulted in continuous raids on Apa by Kanem-Bornu warriors, who wielded chain mail and iron chariots, creating an illusion of invincibility. Over time, internal power struggles between the Idoma and the Jukuns led to the decline of Apa, forcing many Idoma people to migrate southward.

This migration is known in Idoma history as “Efu Onya,” a war laden with legendary accounts of supernatural interventions. Stories tell of a python stretching over the Omada (Benue) River to allow the Idoma to cross, black monkeys (Obagwu) erasing their footsteps, and leopards attacking their enemies, known as the “Abakpa.”

Idoma Migrations and Settlements

Between the 1500s and 1800s, different Idoma communities settled individually in various locations. The Agatu people are believed to have left Apa first, initially settling in Abinsi before founding what is now Makurdi, which they originally called Ogyogo. Eventually, they moved to their present location. Another group migrated to Igala land to aid in a war against the Benin Kingdom, likely the 16th-century conflict between Attah Aji and Oba Esigie over the confiscation of slaves.

Following the war, internal disputes led some Idoma to return toward ancestral Apa, with some stopping in present-day Otukpo while others crossed the Benue River into the North Bank. These migrants became known as Idoma Nokwu, now called the Alago people in Nasarawa State, residing in Doma, Keana, Agwantashi, and Obi.

Around 400-500 years ago, Idoma groups were widely dispersed across lands between the Jukun and Igala regions, covering modern southern Nasarawa State, Benue State, and parts of Igala, Jukun, and Northern Igbo territories. Those who later left Igala communities formed the Otukpa, Owukpa, Orokam, and Ichama communities. Others who departed from Abinsi eventually formed Otukpo, Adoka, and various other settlements. Some followed the Agatu migration route southward, leading to the formation of Ekle, Agila, Igumale, Ijigbam, and Ulayi. The Ufia (Utonkon), another Apa migrant group, initially settled among the Igbo before migrating toward Idoma land.

Another significant group, the Ugboju, was led by Edor the Great. They laid the foundation for settlements such as Okpiko, Onyagede, Agadagba, and Ochobo, which anchored around Oglewu. The Edumoga community initially settled in Abinsi before moving toward modern Otukpo, where they split—one group settling in Igede land and another moving beyond Igede territory to establish the Yalla community in present-day Cross River State. Their leader, Edeh, guided them to their current location in Edumoga.

Political and Social Developments

For centuries, Wukari sought to exert control over the Apa tribes until the establishment of the Attah stool in Idah following the Igala-Jukun war of the 1500s. As a result, Idoma leaders forged new alliances with the Igala, and many chiefs from Idoma, Igala, Ebira, Bassa, and Northern Igbo territories traveled to Idah to receive their beads of authority. A new Idoma-Apa identity began to emerge.

However, around 300 years ago, the Tiv migration into the Benue Valley significantly altered the landscape. The Idoma were pushed southwestward, separating the Alago from the rest of the Idoma, forcing them northward. The Tiv expansion also encircled the Etilo people in present-day Katsina Ala and displaced Idoma groups into Taraba State. Makurdi (Ogyogo) was destroyed, and Abinsi, once an Idoma settlement, became a Jukun town. Otukpo settlers initially fled to Agatu land before later relocating to their current location. Many displaced Idoma communities merged with already established Idoma settlements, creating “communities within communities.”

The Akpa (Akweya) people, who migrated alongside other Idoma groups, also faced similar disruptions. Over time, some Ebira, Igala, Jukun, and Igbo people sought refuge in Idoma land and became assimilated. The indigenous Akpoto people also contributed to the Idoma population.

The Colonial Era and Beyond

The Fulani Jihad of 1805 reached Idoma land in the 1820s, causing further dispersal. The Idoma fiercely resisted and ultimately emerged victorious, solidifying their identity but lacking a centralized government. Each community maintained its own chief and engaged in trade and cultural exchanges with the Eloyi (Afo), Tiv, Igala, Igbo, Hausa, and Jukun, as well as indirectly with the Yoruba and Benin Kingdoms.

By the late 19th century, a new wave of invaders arrived—not northern horse riders in chain mail, but European colonialists from the Atlantic. The British sent Hausa agents into Idoma territories to exploit natural resources, sparking violent conflicts. The Anglo-Idoma War saw Agatu’s Odugbeho burned down in 1899, Akwu completely destroyed, and Adoka razed in retaliation for the killing of eight Abakpa agents. Further resistance occurred in Ugboju, where Chief Amanyi was defeated and exiled to Keffi. By the early 20th century, British rule was firmly established.

In 1924, the northern and southern divisions of Idoma land were united and divided into 22 districts, governed by district heads forming the “Ojira K’Aoche.” The Ogbuloko Wars, triggered by heavy taxation, were brutally suppressed by the British. Colonization led to the abolition of the slave trade, indirect rule, and the conscription of many Idoma youths into World War I, World War II, the Burma Campaign, and the Congo Crisis.

In 1927, the Idoma Native Authority was created following pressure from the Idoma Hope Rising Union (IHRU). The first administrative center was at Okpoga before moving to Otukpo for easier governance. This development led to the installation of the first Och’Idoma, HRH Chief Ogiri Oko, in 1947. He embraced modernization by welcoming missionaries, introducing schools, and fostering economic growth. After his death in 1960, HRH Ajene Okpabi received his staff of office from Queen Elizabeth II, symbolizing a new era in Idoma history.

Despite political marginalization, the Idoma have remained resilient, contributing significantly to Nigeria and the world. Their rich heritage and enduring spirit continue to shape their path forward.