The British-Igbo War That Lasted For 31 years - The Ekumeku Movement

The British-Igbo War That Lasted For 31 years - The Ekumeku Movement

The resolutions of the Berlin conference of 1884-1885, gave European nations the rights to lay claim to lands and resources in Africa.

Britain, who had engaged in the trade with coastal cities before and during the 19th century, made bold their intentions to covet resources and rule over indigenous nations all over Africa.

They came with guns and preachers. Many Africans tribes resisted the British invaders, and this led to protracted wars. Many African tribes put up a great fight against the superior firepower of the suppressive British. One of such tribes are the Igbo people of ancient Biafra, who are now one of the three major tribes in Nigeria.

The Ekumeku Movement was the name of Igbo army, that held the British at bay and fought them for 31 years. The Ekumeku movement consisted of a great number of attacks and uprising by the Anioma people of the land, against the British, from 1893-1914.

The Ekumeku warriors were bound by a secretoath, and meticulously utilized guerrilla tactics to attack the British Royal company, who were determined to penetrate Igbo land. The Ekumeku warriors were drawn from thousands of Anioma youth from all parts of Anioma land. 

The war rages on, the Ekumeku warriors defended their rights to live peacefully without foreign interjection, while the Royal niger company of The British empire led by  Major Festing, W. E. B. Crawford Coupland, Lt. Col. H. c. Moorhouse, S. O. Crewe  used heavy armaments. They destroyed homes and massacred many igbos .

The Ekumeku warriors led by Dunkwu Isusu, Nwabuzo Iyogolo, Awuno Ugbo, Nzekwe, Agbambu Oshue, Idabor, Abuzu, Chidi Nwaoji   used local tactics to repel the attacks of the British, the Ekumeku warriors had many victories over them.