Anioma people are a subgroup of the Igbo ethnic group in Delta State, Nigeria. They are made up of communities which span across 9 Local government areas and speak different varieties of the Igbo language, including the Enuani language, Ukwuani language, and the Ika-Ibo language. The farther away you go from Onitcha after the Niger bridge and heading towards Agbor and Benin city, the deeper the dialect. They occupy Delta North Senatorial District, which consists of the Enuani (Oshimili/Aniocha), Ika, and Ukwuani/Ndokwa linguistic zones of Delta State. Anioma means "Good Land" in the

Igbo language Igbo ( , ; Igbo: ''Ásụ̀sụ́ Ìgbò'' ) is the principal native language cluster of the Igbo people, a meta-ethnicity from Southeastern Nigeria. The number of Igboid languages depends on how one classifies a language versus a dialect, so ...

and they have an estimated total population of approximately 1.8 million people.

Geography

Anioma is located in the areas of the West Basin of

River Niger The Niger River ( ; ) is the main river of West Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in south-eastern Guinea near the Sierra Leone border. It runs in a crescent shape through Mali, ...

, south-south within the present Delta state of Nigeria, it encompasses a land mass of about 6,300 km² . In the political matters of the state, Anioma is often referred to as Delta North as against the other peoples known as the

Delta South Delta South is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. Member of Legislative Assembly The current MLA for this riding is Ian Paton. The previous member was Vicki Huntington, the only Indep ...

and Delta Central in the same state. Anioma is bounded on the East by

Anambra State Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi St ...

, south-east by Imo and

Rivers State Rivers State, also known as Rivers, is a state in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria (Old Eastern Region). Formed in 1967, when it was split from the former Eastern Region, Rivers State borders include: Imo to the north, Abia and Akwa ...

s, south

Bayelsa State Bayelsa is one of the states in the South-South region of Nigeria, located in the core of the Niger Delta region. Bayelsa State was created in 1996 and was carved out from Rivers State, making it one of the newest states in the federation. Yena ...

, south-west by Isoko, west by Urhobo people, north-west by

Edo State Edo, commonly known as Edo State, is a state located in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. As of 2006 National population census, the state was ranked as the 24th populated state (3,233,366) in Nigeria, However there was controvers ...

and north by

Kogi State Kogi State is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the west by the states of Ekiti and Kwara, to the north by the Federal Capital Territory, to the northeast by Nasarawa State, to the northwest by Niger State, to t ...

. Anioma may therefore be regarded as highly contiguous to very many neighbours ethnic groups. The people have drawn experiences as a result of lying contiguous to numerous other towns, communities and states which characterizes the Anioma as one of the most peaceful regions in the country. There are 25 Local government areas in Delta State and the nine underneath make up the Anioma region: # Aniocha North # Aniocha South # Ika south # Ika North-East # Ndokwa East # Ndokwa West # Oshimili North # Oshimili South # Ukwuani

Language

Dialects of Anioma include: Enu-Ani dialect of Igbo Language spoken in Ibusa, Ogwashi-Uku, Asaba, parts of Igbodo, Ilah, Isseles, Idumujes, Onichas etc), Ika language (Agbor, Umunede, Owas etc) & Ukwuani-Aboh Language mostly spoken by the people of Ndokwa Ethnic Nationality. There are Anioma people in Edo state of Nigeria (Igbanke), Anambra state (Onitsha, Ozobulu, Obosi, Oraifite) Imo state (Oguta), Rivers state (Ndoni, Ogba) etc.

List of Anioma towns and communities

Anioma towns and communities alphabetically arranged below: Abah, Abala Anikoko, Abavo, Abi, Abodei, Aboh, Adai, Adonta, Afor, Agbor, Akakpan-Isumpe, Ankara, Akoku, Akuku-Akumazi, Akumazi-Umuocha, Akwuku-Igbo, Alasime, Alidinma, Alihagu, Amai, Anakwa, Anifekide, Aninwalo, Aninwama-Jeta, Aniofu, Aniogo, Anioma, Anuregu, Anwai, Asaba, Asaba-Ase, Asaba-Ubulu, Ashaka, Ashama, Atuma, Atuma-Iga, Azagba-Ogwashi, Azagba-Ubieni, Ebedi, Ebu, Edo-Ogwashi, Egbudu-Akah, Egbudu-Ogwashi, Ejeme-Agbor, Ejeme-Aniogo, Ejeme-Unor, Ekpecho, Ekpon, Ekwuemusana, Emu, Emuhu, Etua Etiti, Etua Ukpo, Ewulu, Ezi, Eziokpor, Ezionum, Ibodoni, Ibrode, Ibusa, Idumuesah, Idumuje-Ugboko, Idumuje-Unor, Idumu-Ogo, Igbanke, Igbodo, Igbuku, Illah, Isa-Ogwashi, Iselegu, Isheagu, Isikiti-Ishiagu, Issele-Azagba, Issele-Mkpitime, Issele-Uku, Isumpe, Kwale, Mbiri, Ndemiri, Ndokwa, Abbi, Inam-Abbi, Eziunm, Nkpolenyi, Nsukwa, Obeti, Obi Anyima, Obi Umutu, Obi, Obiaruku, Obikwele, Obinumba, Obior, Obodo-Eti, Obomkpa, Ogbe, Ogode, Ogume, Ogwashi-Uku, Oko Anala, Oko/Ogbele, Oko-Amakom, Okotomi, Okpa, Okpanam, Okwe, Oligbo, Oligbo, Olor-Usisa, Olu-Odu, Omaja, Onicha Olona, Onicha-Ugbo, Onicha-Uku, Onitsha-Ukwuani, Onogbokor, Onuseti, Onya, Oolor-Ogwashi, Otolokpo, Otulu, Owa Nta, Owa-Abi, Owa-Alero, Owa-Ofie, Owa-Oyibo, Owerri-Olubor, Ubulubu, Ubulu-Okiti, Ubulu-Okiti, Ubulu-Ukwu, Ubulu-Unor, Udumeje, Ugboba, Ugbodu, Ugbolu, Ugiliamai, Ukala-Okpunor, Ukala-Okwute, Ukwuani, Ukwunzu, Ukwu-Oba, Umuabu, Umu-Ebu Adonishaka, Umukwem, Umukwota, Umunede, Umuolu, Umute, Umutu, Unor, Unor, Unuaja, Ushie, Usisa, Utagba-Ogbe, Utagba-Unor, Utchi, Ute Aru, Ute Enugu, Utegbeje, Ute-Okpu, Utuoku.

Notable Anioma people

* Joseph "Hannibal" Achuzie, military personnel and civil war veteran *

Hanks Anuku Hanks Anuku is a Nigerian-Ghanaian actor. He often stars as a villain in many Nollywood films. As of 2017, Anuku was naturalized and became an American. Life He attended Loyola College, Ibadan. He graduated from Auchi Polytechnic Auchi ...

, Veteran Nollywood actor *

Phillip Asiodu Phillip Asiodu, (CON) (born 19 February 1934) is a Nigerian Diplomat, Bureaucrat and former Minister of Petroleum, Nigeria. Life and career Phillip was born February 26, 1934 in Lagos State, southwestern Nigeria. He attended King's College, Lago ...

, former Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria *

Maryam Babangida Maryam Babangida (1 November 1948 – 27 December 2009) was the wife of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who was Nigeria's head of state from 1985 to 1993. Her husband was the target of criticism for rampant corruption during his regime. She ...

, wife of Former Nigerian Head of State, General

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* Prof Joseph Chike Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba * Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, the United Bank for Africa, Transcorp and founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation * Air-Marshal Paul Dike, former Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria NASA *

Buchi Emecheta Florence Onyebuchi "Buchi" Emecheta (21 July 1944 – 25 January 2017) was a Nigerian-born novelist, based in the UK from 1962, who also wrote plays and an autobiography, as well as works for children. She was the author of more than 20 books, ...

, Nigerian-born British novelist *

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, the current Governor of the

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, Nigerian Musician *

Lucky Irabor General Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea Irabor (born 5 October 1965) is a Nigerian army general and the current Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria. He was appointed by Muhammadu Buhari on 26 January 2021. Background Irabor was born on 5 October 19 ...

, Chief of Defence Staff, Nigeria *

Elizabeth Isichei Elizabeth Allo Isichei (born 1939 in Tauranga, New Zealand) is a Nigerian author, historian and academic. Her parents are Albert (an agricultural scientist) and Lorna Allo. On 23 July 1964 she married Uche Peter Isichei (a chemical pathologist) ...

, prominent historian *

Alex Iwobi Alexander Chuka Iwobi ( ; born 3 May 1996) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Everton and the Nigeria national team. Iwobi began his career at Arsenal, making 149 appearances and scoring 15 goals, and wi ...

, football player *

Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu (born 18 December, 1956) is a Nigerian politician and lawyer who served as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. He was replaced by ...

, Minister of State for Petroleum * Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, former Super Eagles captain and Malian National Football Team Coach * Demas Nwoko, prominent Sculptor of Nigeria * Ned Nwoko, former senator *

Sam Obi Samuel Onyeka Obi (1961/2 – 3 April 2021) was a Nigerian politician and pastor. He was a speaker of Delta State house of assembly and former acting governor of Delta State from 2010 to 2011. Until his death, he was the general overseer of Orac ...

, Former Acting Governor of Delta State and former Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly *

Nduka Obaigbena Nduka Obaigbena CON, Duke of Owa Kingdom is the founding Chairman & Editor-in-Chief of the THISDAY Media Group and ARISE News Channel. Background He was born in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria on July 14, 1959, into the royal family of Owa Kingd ...

, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief of the THISDAY Media Group and ARISE News Channel *

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, former Lawn tennis player * Timothy Ogene, writer *

Joy Ogwu Joy Uche Angela Ogwu (born August 22, 1946) is a former foreign minister of Nigeria and a former permanent representative of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York 2008–2017. She is the first woman to hold the post of Permanent Representa ...

, former Mangaging Director of Nigeria Institute of International Affairs *

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, the current Director-general of the

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Ifeanyi Okowa Ifeanyichukwu Arthur Okowa (born 8 July 1959) is a Nigerian doctor and politician who has served as Governor of Delta State since May 2015. A member of the Peoples Democratic Party, he is the party's vice presidential nominee in the 2023 pre ...

, former Nigerian Senator and current Governor of Delta State * Austine "Jay-Jay" Okocha, former Captain of Super Eagles of Nigeria *

Sunday Oliseh Sunday Ogochukwu Oliseh (born 14 September 1974) is a Nigerian football manager and former player. In his active playing career he played as a defensive midfielder. Physical yet technically gifted, he played for top European clubs including Aja ...

, former Captain of super Eagles of Nigeria * Lisa Omorodion, Nollywood Actress, producer and entrepreneur * Dennis Osadebe, politician, poet, journalist and former premier of the now defunct Mid-Western Region of Nigeria, which now comprises Edo and Delta State. *

Jim Ovia Jim James Ovia (born 4 November 1951) is a Nigerian businessman, he is the founder of Zenith Bank which he founded in 1990. Early life Jim Ovia holds a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana, Monroe, Loui ...

, M/D Zenith Bank *

Zulu Sofola Nwazuluwa Onuekwuke "Zulu" Sofola (22 June 1935 – 5 September 1995)Biography
, ′Zulu Sofola official web ...

, the first published female Nigerian playwright and dramatist and first female Professor of Theater Arts in Africa. *

Nduka Ugbade Nduka Ugbade (born 6 September 1969) is the head coach of the Nigeria under-17 national football team and a former football player. Player As a youth player, fresh from St. Finbarrs College Akoka-Lagos, Ugbade was captain of the Nigeria U-16 m ...

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

Patrick Utomi Patrick Okedinachi Utomi (born 6 February 1956) is a Nigerian professor of political economy and management expert. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria and a former presidential candidate. He is the founder of Cen ...

, Presidential Candidate and Founder of Lagos Business School

References

External links

Reawakening in Delta North
*https://web.archive.org/web/20150330003905/http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/nmwpg1HarunaIgboMassacre.html
Asaba.comAnioma USA