Ikwerre people

The Ikwerre (natively known as Iwhuruọha) are an indigenous Igbo grouping in Rivers State, Nigeria and one of the biggest Igbo groups.^[1][2] The Ikwerre ethnic group in Rivers State, spans over four Local Government Areas; Port Harcourt, Obio Akpor, Ikwerre, and Emohua.. Pockets of the Ikwerre are found in nearby Ohaji-Egbema LGA of Imo State.

Traditional history has classified Ikwerre into seven groups called "Ikwerre Essa". They are Elele, Isiokpo, Rumuji, Emohua, Choba, Aluu, Igwuruta and Obio group. This division was first documented by Forde and Jones; (1950) in their ethnographic study of the native languages and peoples of South-Eastern Nigeria. It was also in line with this grouping those seven customary Courts were established in Ikwerre during the Colonial administration. These Courts were located at Elele, Isiokpo, Rumuji, Emohua, Choba, Aluu and Obio in Ikwerreland.^[3]