Ekumeku Movement
| Ekumeku Movement | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| British Empire | Ekumeku organisation | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Major Festing, W. E. B. Crawford Coupland, Lt. Col. H. c. Moorhouse, S. O. Crewe | Dunkwu Isusu of Onicha-Olona, Maya nwa Isusu of Onicha-Olona, Ikwa Gwadia of Onicha-Olona, Ochei nwa Aghaeze of Onicha-Olona, Elumelu Okachi of Onicha-Olona, Nwabuzo Iyogolo, Awuno Ugbo, Nzekwe, Agbambu nwa Oshue of Igbuzo, Idabor of Issele-Ukwu, Abuzu of Idumuje-Unor, Idegwu Otokpoike of Ubulu-Ukwu, Ochie Agodi, Agbambu Oshue, Chidi Nwaoji etc | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Hundreds of soldiers | Hundreds of Ekemeku members | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Minor | Minor with mass imprisonment | ||||||||
The Ekumeku Movement consisted of a series of uprisings against the rising power of the Royal Niger Company of the British Empire by a network of communities in present-day Delta North (Anioma region) of Nigeria. The British penetration of Nigeria met with various forms of resistance throughout the country. In the south, the British had to fight many wars.
This resistance is notable for its organisation, longevity, and use of guerrilla tactics. Rather than being a spontaneous uprising, the Ekumeku movement operated through coordinated efforts across various Anioma communities. Local leadership and traditional institutions played a key role in planning and sustaining the resistance over three decades.
The Ekumeku Movement is a significant part of Anioma history, and stands out in Nigeria’s anti-colonial record for its structure and duration. Though often associated with broader regional resistance in southern Nigeria, it was rooted specifically within the Anioma communities of Delta North, reflecting the political will and cohesion of these groups during the colonial period.