Arochukwu Local Government Area, sometimes referred to as Arochuku or Aro Oke-Igbo, is the third largest local government area in Abia State (after Aba and Umuahia) in southeastern Nigeria and homeland of the Igbo subgroup, Aro people.

It is composed of five clans namely Abam, Aro, Ihechiowa, Ututu and Isu. Arochukwu is a principal historic town in Igbo land. It was also one of the cities in the Southern protectorate targeted by the British colonial government. Several historic tourist sites exist in the city. The mystic Ibini Ukpabi shrine, the slave routes and other relics of the slave trade era are frequently visited by tourists. It is also in the food belt of Abia state where most of the staple foods are produced.

History 

Before Igbo arrival in the Aro territory, a group of proto Ibibio migrated to the area and established the Ibom Kingdom. This proto Ibibio group originally came from Usak Edet (Isanguele), a segment of the Ejagham in present-day Southern Cameroon. The first Igbo settlers to arrive to the area was the Eze Agwu Group led by their leader Agwu Inobia. Tensions between the Igbo settlers and the indigenous Ibibio led to the Aro-Ibibio Wars. The Efik were originally from the Ibom Kingdom and might have left before or during the Aro-Ibibio Wars. The war was initially a stalemate and the Eze Agwu group eventually invited a priest named Nnachi from the Edda clan of northeastern Igboland. Eze Agwu and Nnachi allied with prince Akakpokpo Okon of the Ibom Kingdom. Akakpokpo Okon was the son of a marriage between an Igbo women of the Eze Agwu clan and the King Obong Okon Ita in an attempt of a peace treaty. The Eze Agwu/Nnachi faction decided to help Akakpokpo attempt to overthrow his brother king Akpan Okon. Nnachi invited the Akpa people from the east of the Cross River. The Akpa forces led by Osim and Akuma Nnubi, helped the rebellious group capture the rest of the area. This formed the alliance of 19 new and old states in the area known as the Arochukwu kingdom around 1650–1700. The first king (or Eze Aro) of a unified Arochukwu was Akuma but after his death, Nnachi son's Oke Nnachi took over and his descendants have the throne to this day.

By the mid-18th century, Arochukwu people founded many other communities both within and outside Igboland. These migrations, influence of their god Ibini Ukpabi through priests, and their military power backed up by alliances with several related neighboring Igbo and eastern Cross River militarized states (particularly Ohafia, Abam, Abiriba, Afikpo, Ekoi, etc.) quickly established the Aro Confederacy as a regional economic power. However, Aro economic hegemony was threatened by the penetration of Europeans, mainly British colonists in the wake of the 20th century. Tensions finally led to bloodshed and the Anglo-Aro War took place from 1901 to 1902. The Aro Confederacy stoutly resisted but were eventually defeated. This helped the British to occupy the rest of what is now known as Eastern Nigeria.

Demography
The kingdom is Igbo mixed with Ibibio and Akpa. The main language in Arochukwu is Igbo while Ibibio is also spoken.

The population of Arochukwu town is 10,776. The local government area had a population of 193,820 in 2011, up from 97,800 in 1991.

Climate 
Daily highs hover around 83°F, rarely dropping below 79°F or rising over 87°F. The day of July 23 had the lowest daily average high temperature at 82°F.

Daily lows hover around 73°F, rarely dropping below 70°F or rising beyond 76°F. On August 6, the lowest daily average low temperature is 72°F.

For comparison, the usual temperature range in Arochukwu is 68°F to 85°F on January 1, which is the coldest day of the year, and 72°F to 87°F on February 17, the warmest day of the year.

Clouds 
In Arochukwu, the amount of cloud cover is basically constant throughout the summer, with an average of 81% of the time the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy. On July 29, there is a 78% chance of cloudy or mainly cloudy weather.

On July 29, there are 22% more clear, mostly clear, or partly overcast circumstances than any other day of the summer.

For comparison, the likelihood of gloomy or largely cloudy weather on May 13, the cloudiest day of the year, is 87%, while the likelihood of clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy skies on December 27, the clearest day of the year, is 43%.

Precipitation 
A day that has at least 0.04 inches of liquid or liquid-equivalent precipitation is considered to be wet. The likelihood of a wet day in Arochukwu increases quickly throughout the summer, from 80% at the beginning of the season to 86% at the end.

For comparison, on September 16 there is a 90% possibility of a wet day, while on January there is a 4% chance.

Languages
The languages spoken in Arochukwu LGA are,
Igbo
Ibuoro (Ibibio)
Nkari (Ibibio)

Etymology
Aro translates as Children and Chukwu as God.
Put together this could imply Children of God.

Notable people 
Mazi Alvan Ikoku, OBE educationist (1900–1971)
Chief Dr. Daniel Chimezie Okeke (Mezie Abia, Omereoha 1) Business mogul, Philanthropist and politician
Nwankwo Kanu, footballer
Chidi Imoh, athlete
Alexx Ekubo, Actor and Model
Nnamdi Udoh, aeronautic engineer
Margaret Manson Graham (1860–1933), Scottish missionary nurse who died at Arochukwu
Mao Ohuabunwa, Industrialist and Politician
Benjamin Okike, Computer Scientist 
Dr. Phillips Nto, Politician and Academician
Chief Stephen Kālu Nwankwo (Nnanyere Ugo 1)
Rosemary Inyama (born 11 November 1903),educator, politician, businesswoman and community developer
Chief Okwara Ndubuisi (Ohachirieze) Businessman, philanthropist and politician.
Chief Charles Nwankwo (Ikenga Ututu) Engineer

References

Towns in Abia State
Aros
Local Government Areas in Abia State