IGWEBUIKE: African Journal of Arts and Humanities

This paper examines the military dimensions of intergroup relations between the Ikwerre people and their neighbouring ethnic communities in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, with a focus on conflict, defence strategies, and militarized interactions from the precolonial era to the postindependence period. Drawing on oral histories, colonial archives, and secondary literature, the study traces how traditional warfare practices, territorial disputes, and shifting alliances shaped the historical landscape of Ikwerre relations with groups such as the Kalabari, Etche, Ogoni, and Okrika. It explores the transformation of indigenous defence systems under colonial rule, the disruptions caused by the Nigerian Civil War, and the emergence of ethnic militias and youth-led militarization during the oil boom and militant insurgencies of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The paper also highlights instances of strategic cooperation and joint security efforts in the face of shared threats. By situating the Ikwerre experience within broader patterns of militarization in the Niger Delta, the study contributes to the military historiography of Nigeria and underscores the enduring link between local security dynamics and inter-ethnic political relations. 

Open Full Text (PDF)