Aro - Ibibio Wars The Aro - Ibibio Wars were a series of conflicts between the Aro people ( subgroup of the Igbo ) and several Ibibio groups in present day Southeastern Nigeria from 1630 to 1720 . These wars led to the foundation of the Arochukwu kingdom . The Arochukwu conquest . For about a thousand years , the Ibibio lived in the area which later became Arochukwu . During their staying , they founded several states ( Obong Okon Ita and Ibom ) and had a strong cultural presence . Igbo migrants into the region , was led by the Eze Agwu clan in the mid - 17th century . The Ibibios resisted these newcomers and this resulted in a stalemate . The Eze Awgu clan searched for ways to subdue the stiff Ibibio resistance . The Priest Nnachi from the Edda group near Afikpo , was called by their king Awgu Inobia ( Eze Agwu ) for help . When he arrived , Nnachi and Eze Agwu allied with prince Kakpokpo Okon of the Ibibio kingdom of Obong Okon Ita . Kakpokpo Okon was the son of a marriage between an Igbo women of the Eze Agwu clan and the King of Obong Okon Ita in an attempt of a peace treaty . The Eze Agwu / Nnachi faction decided to help Kakpokpo attempt to overthrow his brother king Akpan Okon . The coup was heavily resisted which called for even more help . Through Nnachi , an Eastern Cross river group answered the call for help . They were known as the Akpa . These warriors and traders , may have had European guns which were new to the Aro territory . Being the Igbo allies , the Akpas were led by the royal Nnubi family . Osim and Akuma Nnubi led Akpa soldiers to help fight against the Ibibios . Together with Igbo forces and Ibibio rebels , they defeated the Obong Okon Ita forces ( 1690 ) . During the final battles , Osim Nnubi was slain in Oror city state making it the capital of Arochukwu . In Obinkita the remaining Ibibio warriors became prisoners and were judged and that is why the city state is the holder of the Ikeji festival . But at the end of the war , Osim and Kakpokpo were dead . In order to honor Osim ' s legacy , his brother Akuma was crowned the first EzeAro ( king ) . After his death , Nnachi ' s descendants took the throne starting with his first son Oke Nnachi . The Arochukwu kingdom , was founded . Aftermath . After Arochukwu was formed , it began to expand because of the growing population and territorial protection . Ibibio groups who were kicked out and their allies ( Obot Mme , Mako , and etc . ) sporadically attacked Arochukwu shortly after its formation . In order to neutralize Ibibio invasions , Aro forces formed vigilante camps which eventually grew into communities on the Arochukwu - Ibibio boundaries and repelled the invasions . As the Arochukwu kingdom rose into a Confederacy of 19 states , the palm and slave trade became popular . Several Aro business families migrated to Ibibioland and established colonies . This helped to spread the influence of the Aro Oracle , Ibini Ukpabi . Some Aro merchants and mercenaries helped their Efik allies capture and sell many Ibibios and other groups as slaves to the Europeans . During the 1890s , the Aro resisted British penetration in the hinterland . The Aro and their allies launched offensives against British allies in Igbo and Ibibioland until 1901 . After failed negotiations , the British planned on capturing Igboland and Ibibioland through the Aro Confederacy in 1899 . The tensions rose and resulted in the Anglo - Aro War ( 1901 – 1902 ) . During the war , several friendly communities and local collaborators were utilized by British troops . Some of the communities were in the Ibibio areas around Itu which was one of four axes of advance by British troops to Arochukwu . It was also through Itu that Arochukwu was first invaded during the war . Aro forces were defeated in spring 1902 .