Little is said about the Anglo-Aro war of the 19th century. Only a few Nigerians including the people of Eastern Nigeria where the war occurred know about this struggle that lasted nearly half a year (November 1901- March 1902).
The Aro people are found in the ancient kingdom of Arochukwu in present day Abia state. The Aros are situated on the west bank of Cross river near Itu. Tradition has it that non-Igbos were once the lords of the area until a revolt from Igbo settlers defeated and took the lands from their land lords. The Ibibio-Aro war of 17th century ended with the defeat of the Ibibios by the Aro migrants. It was also believed the Oracle Ibini Opkabe (their most potent Deity) played a central role in the coming to power of the Igbo settlers and their subsequent progress. The Arochukwu (meaning voice of God) drew the name from strong affinity to fetish ways, of which the oracle Ibini Okpabe played a vital role.
The Aros formed a strong alliance with her neighbors. The Confederacy the Aros established covered the eastern part of Nigeria and stretched into the middle belt and delta areas of today's Nigeria. The Aros grew in power and trade, their military reached a zenith within the Cross River area. They were feared and no opposition arose against them. They established strong trade centers for slaves, palmnuts and palm oil.
Problem began to brew when the British arrived the west bank of Cross River. At first the Aros acted as dependable middlemen between the people of the hitherlands and the British. Agricultural produce from the interior areas of eastern Nigeria such as Ibeku, Owerri etc were first sold to Aro middlemen who in turn sold to the Royal Niger Company of Britain.This was a win win situation for all parties. The British became greedy along the line and pushed to get into the hitherlands to conduct trade directly. The British wanted to cut cost and also to garner as much raw materials as the hitherlands can be stretched.
The Royal Niger Company of Britain sought to by pass the normal chain of trade and this caused friction between the Aros and the British.The people of Aro feared the coming British power will destroy the already established way of life which includes the culture and traditions of the indigenous people. The alliance established between the Aros and her neighbors provided the Confederacy soldiers. These men were used to blockade the British advance into the hitherlands.
Not all indigenous people located on the western Cross River sided with the Aro Confederacy. Some allied with the British providing intel on the movement and situation of the Confederacy.
The Aros led by Okoro Toti launched a preepmtive attack on November 1901, they attacked and sacked Obegu, a British ally. The assault on Obegu resulted to many casualties. Obegu is located in present day Ugwunagbo local government in Abia state Nigeria. The British under Arthur Forbes Montanaro began a counter offensive penetration in the same month. Arthur chose to attack from four routes namely Ogwuta, Uwana, Agwete and Utu. Athur led about 2000+ combatant against 5000-6000 Aro defenders, the Aros fought out of sheer courage. The British soldiers were well equipped yet the Aros gave stiff opposition. For four days the British fought on until the defenders yielded, Arochukwu was then captured.
The Aro defenders dug trenches. They fought with what they can muster, majorly with machete. Less than a thousand soldiers armed with dane guns manned the trenches while the bulk of defenders stayed behind with machete ready to fill up positions in the trenches or provide direct assault on the British lines.
The Aros held on till March of 1902 when they finally surrendered at the battle of Bende.At the end of the war Okoro Toti was arrested and hanged by the British. The defeat did not silence the Aro people. They went on to participate and in most cases chaired major uprisings against British occupation. Though the sacrifice of these great men are partially forgotten, they showed us no enemy should be tolerated because of fear.
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