Obolo people

Historically, the Andoni (called Idoni or Indo) before the colonial era when commercial contacts with European traders and with the Bonny, Okrika, Kalabari, Nkoro, and Ette people of present Ikot-Abasi as well as the Okoro-utip and Mkpanak people of Ibeno. In the past, Obolo people frequently fought wars with the Bonny and Ogoni people.

The following have been rulers:

1. His Royal Majesty, King J. W Okuruket Nnabiget (XIV) JP, Okaan Ama Ngo Land. (Chairman Andoni Traditional Rulers Council)
2. His Supreme Majesty, King (Dr.) Israel. U. Otuo (IX) JP, Okaan Ama Ido Unyeada Kingdom
3. His Royal Majesty, King Aaron Miller Ikuru, Okaan Ama Ikuru Town
4. His Royal Majesty, King Benson Mgbo-Owaji Hebron Egwenre-Oruk(XVIi), Okaan Ama Ataba, Rivers State

Andoni (Obolo) territory contains many rivers, including Kwa Ibo River, Imo River, (Nkon Toru), Andoni River and Bonny River. At the western part of the Obolo land, the deltaic estuaries influenced its formation into a network of islands. Andoni villages and towns are situated on islands with many smaller fishing settlements. An aerial view of the picturesque Andoni Islands display a sort of shattered constellation on the surface of water.

Island I

Island I is generally referred to as Andoni Island, is the largest and consists of the following towns and villages; Ngo Town (Headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area), Ikuru Town, Agbama, Ibotokpon Obolo, Okoroboile, Unyeangala (Doni Town) Asukama, Asuk-Oyet, Agana, Egwede, Ayamboko, Agwut-Obolo (the traditional sanctuary of Obolo people), Iwoma, Ichama, Illotombi, Muma, Okokiri, Ama-Augustus, and Oyorokoto (the largest fishing settlement in West Africa). Andoni Island is believed to be Nigeria's most endemic island due to the enormous biodiversity found here. The African Forest elephants and pigmy hippopotamus are residents on this island.

Island II

Island II includes the following towns and villages; Ebukuma, Okoloile, Otuokorolo, Ama-Ubulom, Ama-Ngere Nkpon, Otuiborong, Gomkiri, and Agbalek-Ama (Agbalama).

Island III

Island III comprises the following towns and villages; Unyeada Town (The Ancestral Headquarters of Unyeada Kingdom), Asarama Asarakiri, Dimama, Egendem, Inyongnchicha, Ama-Paul, Polokiri, Galilee, Ama-Ekpu, Okama, and Isiodum.

Island IV

The fourth Island, bordering Khana Local Government Area, being the entry point to Andoni by road (Unity Road) contains the following towns and villages; Inyongoron Town, Asarama-ija, Iwoma, Ama-njijor, Ajirikiri, Olukama, Egbormung Town, Oru, and Ogbidim.

Island V

The Island fifth is another entry point to Andoni, the Isi-Okwan district which is part of Unyeada Kingdom, is bordering the popular Kaa (Okuka) Market, originally an Andoni market but now in Khana Local Government Area. Its consists of the following towns and villages; Ajakajak, Samanga, Ibot-Irem, Dema City, Otuafu, Otunria, Ogbonte, Otuokolokolo, Ama-Ernest, Agbadam, Ama-Gabriel, Okukpo, Okwan-york, Oron-Ijah, Udungama. Also, the island shared parts of the ever-busy Kaa Market.

Island VI

The sixth island is the last island in Andoni, bordering Bonny and Gokhana. The ongoing Bonny/Andoni/Bodo Road passes through the island. It consists of the following towns and villages: Ataba Kingdom, Amanku, Iyoba, Agbakoroma, Otuafa, Nkanlek, Owokiri, Agbanbalaka, Asarama Toru, Sobokiri.

The Andoni people are thought to be the fiercest warriors in the Niger Delta. they have fought many wars with the Ogonis yet the two tribes remained best of friends. The Andoni (Obolo) also migrated and settled in various parts of Niger Delta and West Africa including Ibeno and Oron in Akwa Ibom, Andoni, Kala-Ido and Ogoloma in Okrika and Kalabari in Rivers State, also Igbere in Abia State. The Andoni people are very cultural, among the key towns are Ngo (Gogo), Ebukuma, Ikuru (Ama Ikwut), Ataba, Ekede, Agwut-Obolo, Okoromboko, Okoroete, Iko, Elile and Amadaka (Eastern Obolo axis), Asarama, Unyeada, Dema, Ataba, Illotombi, Egbormung, Ajakajak, Isiodum, etc.

The Nwantam masquerade of Andoni celebrated every first January is one of the highlights of Obolo festivities, which they share with the Opobo, Nkoro, and Bonny. Their ancient practices includes a writing system known as nsibidi, ofiokpo cult, ngbegbengbe, and the war dance. The fishing festival (Ijok-Irin) is special and peculiar to the people of Unyeada Kingdom.

Ijok-Irin annual fishing festival was originated by migrant fishing folks who always return home from fishing expeditions at end of each traditional fishing season between July and August for the presentation of their biggest catch, usually through smoked preservation to the King of the kingdom (Okaan-Ama) as trophies; it is the culture of Obolo people that the biggest catch cannot be eaten alone or sold. Due to its ecotourism potential, the festival in recent years has been rebranded to attract tourists.

Prior to the British colonial era, the Obolo people were among the first to come in contact with the Europeans and traded mainly with the Portuguese. They worshipped a national deity (god) called Yok-Obolo, who is the founder/spiritual head of the Obolo people elevated to a god upon death.

Christianity was already accepted in Obolo land long before 1699 (As recorded when John Barbot visited Dony Town (Andoni) in 1699, he observed that the King of Dony Town accepted Christianity and priests were regularly sent from Sao Tome and Brazil to minister to him, The king of Dony town also spoke Portuguese. Despite Christianity, the Yok-Obolo was still feared among neighbouring tribes (Bonny, Opobo, Ibibio/Efiks, Ogonis, etc.), which made them spread terrifying news about the Obolo people to the British colonial masters.

In 1869. King Jaja had to enter an oath of allegiance with the Yok-Obolo before he was allowed to establish his new town Opobo (1970) in the Andoni territory. This was against the wish of Bishop Ajayi Crowther who lamented that King Jaja was entering the “Heart of Darkness” when he came to Obolo (Andoni) is 1869 for a treaty with the Obolos

When the stories against the Obolo (Andoni) were so much the British Colonial Authorities decided to send a punitive expedition against them in 1904, Which was led by Captain A.A. Whitehouse with the sole aim of destroying Obolo (Andoni) as a political entity and reducing their influence among neighbouring tribes in the Niger Delta. On arrival, A.A. Whitehouse and his military team went straight to Alabie Town (Agwut-Obolo), burnt and destroyed the high altar of the deity of the Obolo Monarchy (Yok-obolo), and the site of the House of Skulls with over 2,000 skulls of Obolo (Andoni) enemies killed in wars.

The British destroyed the House of Skulls and the Shrine of Yok-Obolo in 1904 and split Andoni into six parts, each attached to one of the six Native Courts in the Niger Delta with the aim of destroying Obolo politically. Some of the bronze arts and crafts collected by the British from Andoni (Obolo) during this Expedition are currently on display in the British Museum.[4]

Obolo land, which spanned from the Oron territory in Akwa Ibom State to Bight of bonny in Rivers State, is has significant natural resources. Major part of Nigeria's oil and gas revenue is generated from Obolo land.

In a recent report by the UNDP on Niger Delta Biodiversity Project, Andoni Island is recorded as the most endemic island in the Nigeria. It is home to some of the six IUCN Red List mammals, most notably though recent information on population numbers is not available, is the endangered (Niger Delta) Forest elephant (Loxodonta African cyclotis).[5]

Others are: the West African manatee (Trichechus Senegalensis), the White-throated guenon (Cercopithecus erythrogaster), the Sclater's guenon (Cercopithecus sclateri), the Niger Delta Red Colobus Monkey (Procolobus epieni). Other wildlife resources available are the Nile crocodile, aquatic Antelopes, forest Hog, Pyton and Waterbuck.

In recent years, Pygmy hippopotami are out of sight in Andoni. Also, the island's Atlantic beaches are breeding ground to four endangered species of sea turtle: the Leatherback sea turtle ( Dermochelys carretta), Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), Olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), Loggerhead sea turtle (Carretta caretta), and the critically endangered hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata).

An Andoni Elephant Sanctuary was proposed by the Rivers State Government in 1980, during the regime of Chief Melford Okilo, but largely remained as unprotected community forest land that cut across over 20 communities. The sanctuary is located on a stretch of Andoni Barrier island measuring about 124Km2. In recent times, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation and a community-based organization, Save Andoni Forest Elephant Initiative (Safe-i) in collaboration with the Local Government Council have commenced conservation work to preserve the wildlife species found on the island.

Almost all parts of Andoni Local Government Area can be reached by road and by sea. A trip to Oyorokoto, christened as the largest fishing settlement in West African coast will offer tourists the touch of the Atlantic Ocean. Andoni Island is Nigeria's most endemic island.

The Obolo people speak the Obolo language as the only native language. Obolo language contributes to the identity of the people of Andoni and Eastern Obolo. It is one of the 535 languages in Nigeria and belongs in Lower Cross River language sub-branch of Delta Cross branches of the Eastern Division of South Central Niger Congo language family.

• Barr. Erastus Awortu, Mayor/Chairman, Andoni Local Government Area.
• Comrade Anthony Nted Emmanuel, Former President, Maritime Workers' Union of Nigeria.
• Dr. Silas Eneyo, former Commissioner, Rivers State Ministry of Health and author of Andoni Monarchy, An introduction to the History of Kingship Institution of the Andoni People.
• Barr. Rufus Godwins, Former Solicitor general of Rivers State and the current Head of Rivers State Civil Service
• Ikuinyi O. Ibani Honorable Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly.
• Engr Tele Ikuru, former Deputy Governor of Rivers State.
• Prince Uche Secondus, National Chairman, People's Democratic Party (PDP).
• Pastor Ezekiel Warigbani , Former Governorship Candidate of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance in the 2019 Rivers State gubernatorial election.

• Map of Obolo, published by Andoni Progressive Union and amended by the Obolo Language and Bible Translation Organisation. History of the Igbere people.
• Map of Obolo updated by OLBTO.