From Uduma Kalu
*3.0 Introduction*
The Ohafia-Abam vs Obolo war is the war that opened the Atlantic to Ohafia. Without Obolo War, there is no Bonny, no Opobo. Obolo people, also known as the Andoni or Doni, is an Ijaw Subgroup in the Niger Delta region — primarily found in Rivers and Akwa Ibom State.
*3.1 Who Are The Obolo (Andoni)?*
The Obolo are regarded as the oldest Eastern Ijo settlers. Linguistic evidence shows the incursion of Obolo speakers into Eastern Niger Delta pushed the Ijo aborigines from the fringe inward and their consequent dispersion and establishment of Ijo-Nkoro speakers, Ijo-Kalabari speakers, Ijo-Ibani speakers and Ijo-Okrika speakers.
They controlled all maritime gateways — Imo River, Andoni River and Qua Ibo River. Their villages are situated on islands. Island I comprises Ngo Town, Ikuru Town, Okoroboile, Unyeangala, Asukama, Agana, Egwede and stretched to Oyorokoto, the largest fishing settlement in Rivers State. Island II includes Asarama Town, Unyeada, Egendem. Any hinterland produce from Ngwa, Ndoki and Ibibio must pass Obolo toll before reaching Atlantic.
*3.2 Causes of War*
*3.2.1 Commercial Blockade*
The Andoni/Obolo people before the colonial era had commercial contacts with European traders and with other neighbouring Ijaw clans, such as the Bonny, Okrika, Kalabari, Nkoro. They imposed heavy tolls on Aro traders at Imo estuary, blocking Aro access to Bonny.
*3.2.2 The Aro Contract System*
The Aro of Cross River Igboland, with the help of Ohafia, Abam and Edda soldiers warred against Igbo and non-Igbo communities that supposedly hindered their slaving and trading activities. Obolo was listed among hindering communities. Aro provided Dane guns, Abam provided infantry.
*3.2.3 Mercenary Prestige*
Abam people were fierce and dreaded warriors. They gloried in war conquests, and participated much in mercenary and military policing duties across Eastern Nigeria. They were contracted across Igboland and beyond for defence purposes. Defeating Obolo — whose Yok-Obolo shrine was still feared among neighboring tribes, who spread rumors of their ferocity in battle even to the British — conferred title _Ochiagha_ (war leader) in Ohafia.
*3.3 Phases of War*
*Phase I: River Battles (c.1600-1650)*
Ohafia-Abam, using small war dugouts, attacked Ngo and Asarama. Obolo defence centred on House of Skulls and Shrine of Yok-Obolo. In their prayers, Okotete, Okot Mboko, Okot-iti, and Ibat-Obolo are a solemn rendition.
*Phase II: Alliance War (c.1650-1720)*
Obolo allied with Ogoni against hinterland. The Obolo people frequently fought wars with the Kingdom of Bonny and the Ogoni people. At this stage, Bonny (Ibani) was allied with Obolo against Igbo. The war poems recall: War canoes boom the cannon, migrating their way in the hinterland, they sat at Ayama.
*Phase III: Aro-Abam Victory (c.1720-1760)*
The incursion of these Andoni group resulted into among other wars, interethnic wars, particularly between the Ibani people and some Andoni communities. With Aro guns, Abam broke Obolo blockade. Ayama soon became Asarama-toru — indicating Ibani (Bonny) hunter who swum through the estuary to settle after Obolo defeat.
*3.4 Reversal: From Enemy to Employer*
After 1760, Bonny switched sides. Bonny now hired the same Abam who had fought Obolo to fight Obolo for Bonny. This marks origin of mercenary system in Eastern Delta.
*3.5 Cultural Evidence Today*
1. *Andoni:* British 1904 punitive expedition destroyed House of Skulls and Shrine of Yok-Obolo and split Andoni into six divisions attached to Native Courts — proof of Obolo military power.
2. *Ohafia:* Ikperikpe songs mention _Obolo Okpara Isi_ — Obolo as first head-takers of sea.
3. *Bonny:* Ibani came to Ayama as a hunter he swum through the estuary — confirms Ibani settlement after Abam cleared Obolo.
4. *Language:* Andoni is an Idoni people scattered in their numbers among Ohafia, Oron, Ido even Tombia and Ogoloma — showing post-war dispersal and mixture of Ohafia, Oron and Ijo elements.
*3.6 Conclusion*
The Obolo war was commercial gateway war. Aro contracted Abam, Abam defeated Obolo, Bonny inherited sea gate, then hired Abam as permanent army. Without this war, Eastern Ijo city-states would not have access to Igbo hinterland oil.
*REFERENCES*
1. Dike, K.O. _Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta, 1830-1885._ Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1956.
2. Afigbo, A.E. "The Aro and Ohafia-Abam Military Alliance." In _Ropes of Sand: Studies in Igbo History and Culture._ Ibadan: University Press, 1981. Evidence of Aro using Ohafia, Abam and Edda soldiers against hindering communities.
3. Jones, G.I. _The Trading States of the Oil Rivers._ Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1963.
4. Horton, R. "Obolo Incursion and Ijo Dispersion." _Journal of African History,_ 1997.
5. Eneyo, S.E. _The Andoni (Obolo) History, Culture and Language._ Port Harcourt: 1991.
6. Ejituwu, N.C. _A History of Obolo (Andoni)._ 1991.
7. Fatherland Gazette. "People and Culture of Nigeria: The Obolo Tribe." — Obolo frequently fought wars with Bonny and Ogoni, commercial contacts with Bonny, Okrika, Kalabari, Nkoro.
8. Alagoa, E.J. _A History of the Niger Delta._ Ibadan: Ibadan University Press, 1972.
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