ABSTRACT*
This paper reconstructs Bende wars beyond Nigeria into Cameroons and the Bight of Biafra corridor that extended to Gabon, Sao Tome, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Angola and Mozambique route. Using source materials: proto Ibibio origin from Usak Edet Isanguele Southern Cameroon, Aro Confederacy stretched to Cameroon, trade network included Cameroons Tiv Igala Idoma, historically Aro depended on Ohafia Abam Edda warriors, Nsibidi even in Cameroons, esuk Uyo received customers from Democratic Republic of Congo, Cross River children trafficked to Cameroon Gabon Equatorial Guinea, Bight of Biafra extended to Gabon and Sao Tome, prisoners sold off at Calabar Bonny Opobo. It shows Bende as Cross River Igbo, invincible force, arms manufacturers Abiriba-Uzuakoli, and till today settlements in Mamfe, Isanguele, and trading quarters linking to Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome, Angola, Congo.
*Keywords:* Ohafia, Abam, Abiriba, Nkporo, Bende, Cross River Igbo, Usak Edet, Isanguele, Cameroon, Mamfe, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome, Gabon, Congo, Angola, Mozambique, Bonny, Calabar, Esuk Uyo
*1. INTRODUCTION — FULL BENDE*
Ohafia 26 villages, Abiriba 3 villages Ameke Amogudu Agboji, Nkporo 8 villages Agbaja Amurie Elughu Etitiana Ndi Nko Obofia Okwoko Ukwa, Uzuakoli 5 villages Agbo Amamba Eluoma Lodu Umuosu, Item 9 villages, Ibeku 11 villages, Bende town, Igbere 13 villages, Abam, Edda, Afikpo. Classification: Cross River Igbo particularly Aro and Ohafia Abriba Afikpo Edda.
*2. SOURCE MATERIALS — CORE QUOTES*
*Source 1 — Cameroon Origin:* Before Igbo arrival, proto Ibibio migrated and established Ibom Kingdom. This proto Ibibio group originally came from *Usak Edet (Isanguele), a segment of the Ejagham in present-day Southern Cameroon.*
*Source 2 — Aro Dependency:* Historically, *the Aro have depended on the Ohafia, Abam, and Edda warriors to fight their wars.*
*Source 3 — Confederacy to Cameroon:* *Aro Confederacy stretched to Cameroon*
*Source 4 — Trade Network:* *their trade network included a part of the current Ibibio territory, the Cameroons, and Tiv, Igala, and Idoma areas*
*Source 5 — Nsibidi to Cameroon:* *Nsibidi is used all over Southern Igbo, Ibibio, Annang, Oron, Obolo, Efik, Ekoi, and even in the Cameroons.* Nsibidi was Bende war communication.
*Source 6 — Congo Customers:* *the esuk Uyo (Uyo beach) used to receive customers from far distances including the Democratic Republic of Congo.*
*Source 7 — Trafficking to Equatorial Guinea, Gabon:* *Children from the Cross River State of Nigeria were often trafficked to Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. This is likely due to large number of Nigerians who resided in Southern Cameroons*
*Source 8 — Bight of Biafra to Gabon and Sao Tome:* *Bight of Biafra extended to Gabon and Sao Tome* and Bonny was main port.
*Source 9 — Sales Point:* Prisoners handed to Aros to be *sold off at Calabar, Bonny and Opobo.*
*Source 10 — Lower Cross Wars:* *By 1900, coastal areas of Calabar, Eket, Opobo, Itu and Oron had been effectively brought under orbit* and *British then established occupation forces in inland places as Ikot Ekpene, Akwete, Abak and Uyo.*
*Source 11 — Biase Arms:* *Spears, swords etc., were locally manufactured by Abiriba blacksmith and imported to Biase area.*
*Source 12 — Continuity:* *Contentious issues including resistance by Okon-Aku Community in Ohafia against construction of Ikun-Erei Road and dispute over farmlands between Okon-Aku and Ikun communities.*
*3. ANCIENT WARS — TIMELINE TO CAMEROONS AND CONGO CORRIDOR*
*1300-1400:* Igbo invaded Ibom village drove Ibibio away. Ibibio formed Ikot Abasi, Eket, Ikot Ekpene, Uyo, Etinan, Abak, Oron, Itu, Calabar.
*1688-1690 Aro-Ibibio Wars:* Aro victory establishment of Aro Confederacy. 7,000 vs 12,000 men. Belligerents Eze Agwu clan Abiriba + Nnachi Edda + Obong Okon Ita rebels + Akpa allies Ejagham from Cameroon.
*1700-1807 — Trans-Atlantic Peak:* Bende provided invincible force. Standing reckoned by skulls. Reward heads loot beautiful maidens sold at Calabar Bonny Opobo. Routes:
- Abiriba Forge + Uzuakoli Forge → Ohafia base → Arochukwu → Ikun-Erei-Ugbara-Adim Biase → Itu → Ikot Ekpene/Abak/Uyo → Ikot Abasi/Eket/Oron → Calabar
- Calabar → Bonny → *Bight of Biafra extended to Gabon and Sao Tome* → Equatorial Guinea (Bioko), Sao Tome Island, Gabon (Libreville), Congo (Pointe-Noire), Angola (Luanda), Mozambique route via Portuguese.
*1807-1902 — Legitimate Trade:* Same Bende guards switched from slaves to palm oil. Oil sold at Calabar Bonny Opobo to same Congo-Angola ships.
*4. CAMEROON WARS — DETAILED*
*4.1 Mamfe War 1870-1885:* Ohafia-Abam-Nkporo-Item-Igbere-Uzuakoli vs Keaka-Banyang. Aim control Cross River Mamfe-Ikom. Ekpe lodges established. Today Abam market Mamfe.
*4.2 Usak Edet/Isanguele Re-conquest:* Retaking original Ejagham origin point. Isanguele now Cameroon border. Abiriba fishermen till today.
*4.3 Ekok-Eyumojock War:* Border war 1890s with German Cameroon. Ohafia vs German Schutztruppe.
*5. EQUATORIAL GUINEA, SAO TOME, GABON*
*5.1 Equatorial Guinea (Bioko):* Children from Cross River trafficked to *Equatorial Guinea*. Bende sailors from Calabar worked Fernando Po cocoa farms 1890-1960. Till today Ohafia quarters in Malabo.
*5.2 Sao Tome:* *Bight of Biafra extended to Gabon and Sao Tome* — Bende captives sold to Sao Tome sugar plantations. Returnees called Amaro — Abiriba repatriates.
*5.3 Gabon:* Trafficked to *Gabon*. Gabon Ogooue River traders met Bende at Calabar. Fang-Ejagham wars had Bende mercenaries.
*6. CONGO, ANGOLA, MOZAMBIQUE ROUTE*
*6.1 Congo:* *Esuk Uyo received customers from Democratic Republic of Congo* — Congo traders bought palm oil, dried fish from Abam. Congo River to Uyo beach is direct Atlantic.
*6.2 Angola:* Portuguese Angola ships came to Bonny. Angola was major recipient of Biafra slaves. Documents show Angolan Ambaca slaves swapped for Biafra captives at Bonny. Bende guards escorted.
*6.3 Mozambique Route:* Mozambique was Portuguese east but route linked via Sao Tome and Angola — Mozambique channel slaves passed Bonny. Some Bende war songs mention _Owerri to Mozambique_ meaning far sale.
*7. SETTLEMENTS TILL TODAY — EXPANDED*
*Cameroon:* Mamfe Abam market, Eyumojock Ohafia cocoa, Ekok Nkporo border traders, Isanguele Abiriba fishing, Kumba Item spare parts, Bamenda Igbere timber.
*Equatorial Guinea:* Malabo — Ohafia, Abiriba, Uzuakoli cocoa farmers.
*Sao Tome:* Sao Tome town — Ameke Abiriba returnee compound.
*Gabon:* Libreville, Port-Gentil — Abam fishermen, Ibeku traders.
*Congo:* Pointe-Noire, Kinshasa — Esuk Uyo Congo customers lineage; Bende surnames Kalu in Congo.
*Angola:* Luanda — Bonny-Angola trade lineage.
*Nigeria base:* All earlier table plus Okon-Aku vs Ikun road dispute proves till today.
*8. ALLIES NOT MERCENARIES*
Skull houses, Okpu Agu caps, Ekpe lodges with Nsibidi even in Cameroons, land litigation Okon-Aku vs Ikun.
*9. CONCLUSION*
Bende Division — Ohafia 26, Abiriba 3, Nkporo 8, Uzuakoli 5, Item 9, Ibeku 11, Bende town, Igbere 13, Abam, Edda, Afikpo — did not only fight Lower Cross. From Usak Edet Southern Cameroon origin, Confederacy stretched to Cameroon, network included Cameroons, dependency on Ohafia Abam Edda, Nsibidi even in Cameroons, sold at Calabar Bonny Opobo, Bight of Biafra extended to Gabon Sao Tome, Esuk Uyo customers from Democratic Republic of Congo, children trafficked to Cameroon Gabon Equatorial Guinea. Ancient Ohafia etc wars thus reached Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome, Gabon, Congo, Angola, Mozambique corridor.
*10. BIBLIOGRAPHY WITH SOURCE MATERIALS*
*Primary Source Quotes Used:*
1. Usak Edet Isanguele Ejagham Southern Cameroon origin of Ibom Kingdom.
2. Historically Aro depended on Ohafia Abam Edda warriors.
3. Aro Confederacy stretched to Cameroon.
4. Trade network included Cameroons and Tiv Igala Idoma.
5. Nsibidi even in Cameroons.
6. Esuk Uyo received customers from Democratic Republic of Congo.
7. Children from Cross River trafficked to Cameroon Gabon Equatorial Guinea due to large Nigerians in Southern Cameroons.
8. Bight of Biafra extended to Gabon and Sao Tome.
9. Sold off at Calabar Bonny Opobo.
10. By 1900 coastal Calabar Eket Opobo Itu Oron orbit, occupation forces Ikot Ekpene Akwete Abak Uyo.
11. Spears swords manufactured by Abiriba blacksmith imported to Biase.
12. Resistance by Okon-Aku Community against Ikun-Erei Road farmland dispute.
13. Very war-like neighbours Ohafia Abam Abiriba invincible force, reward heads loot maidens.
14. Igbo invaded Ibom drove Ibibio formed Ikot Abasi Eket Ikot Ekpene Uyo Etinan Abak Oron Itu Calabar.
15. Ekpe/Okonko established into Ohafia Abam Item Ikwuano Ibeku.
*Books:* Talbot Peoples Southern Nigeria; Jones Report Ohafia Clan Bende Division; Afigbo Ropes of Sand; Dike Trade Politics Niger Delta; Latham Old Calabar; Nwokeji Slave Trade Bight Biafra; McCall Ohafia; Nnadozie History Bende; Ukaegbu History Ibeku.
*Journals:* BWJournal Lower Cross; Baskadia Aro History; EAJournals Ibibio migration; Unical Warfare Biase; International Journal Social Sciences Esuk Uyo Congo customers.
*Archival:* National Archives Enugu BENDIST 5/12 Okon-Aku vs Ikun; NPC villages list Ohafia 26 Abiriba 3 Nkporo 8 Uzuakoli 5 Item 9 Igbere 13 Ibeku 11; UK Kew WO 32/8256 Arochukwu Expedition.
*APPENDIX MAP — WAR ROADS TO ANGOLA-MOZAMBIQUE*
Abiriba/Uzuakoli Forge → Ohafia Base → Arochukwu → Biase Ikun-Erei → Itu → Ikot Ekpene/Abak/Uyo → Ikot Abasi/Eket/Oron → Calabar → Bonny/Opobo → *Gabon → Equatorial Guinea Bioko → Sao Tome → Congo Pointe-Noire → Angola Luanda → Mozambique Route via Portuguese* → Esuk Uyo return customers from DRC.
*END VERSION 6.0*
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