Ekumeku Movement - History

History

Resistance was strong in Anioma land where a series of wars were waged against the British. The Ekumeku, who were well organised and whose leaders were joined in secrecy oaths, effectively utilised guerrilla tactics to attack the British. Their forces, which were drawn from thousands of Anioma youth from all parts of Anioma land, created many problems for the British, but the British used forceful tactics and heavy armaments (destroying homes, farms, and roads) to prevail. The Ekumeku, however, became a great source of Anioma nationalism.

The Ekumeku Movement is unique in Anioma history for two reasons. First, the length of time the movement endured, comprising Military campaigns over a period of thirty one years. Secondly it is the outstanding example in Anioma Civilization of an attempt to unite previously disunited states to resist the invader. You have seen that one crucial reason for Anioma defeat was the great discrepancy of scale between the average Anioma community and the colonial invader. The British decided on a preemptive strike, and in December 1902 sent a powerful expedition which systematically destroyed a number of towns and imprisoned their leaders. This, it was assumed, was the end of the Ekumeku.."the Ekumeku and other secret societies have been completely broken".

In 1904, the Ekumeku rose again. This time the changed their tactics, mistakenly, it would seem in retrospect, abandoning the united guerilla warfare of 1898 for the individual defence of each town. The last act of the Eureka drama began in late 1909. The occasion was a succession dispute in Ogwashi-Uku. One of the claimants, Nzekwe, the son of the last Obi, feared that the British would deprive him of his throne, and decided to fight for his inheritance.

On 2 November 1909, the British sent an expedition to Ogwashi-Uku to kill everyone in Ogwashi-Uku but they failed in the expedition. The British perceived, in the whole Asaba hinterland, a sympathy with the Ekumeku, and a disposition to throw off government authority. In 1911, there was a final round-up of Ekumeku leaders in various towns that was followed, once more, by imprisonments.

The acting lieutenant-governor of the southern provinces sent an agitated telegram to Lagos: "Whole country is above area...is the state of rebellion." Reinforcements arrived from Lokoja, and the British proceeded to a confrontation at Akegbe. We quote both the contemporary British accounts of the battle at Nkwo market.