Amaekpu is one of the earliest villages of Ohafia. It was founded by Nna Ofali Agwu and has, over the years, grown into a closely knit community comprising four sections and seventeen compounds, all interconnected and interrelated by ancestry, history, and tradition.

The village is rich in history, culture, and heritage, offering numerous points of historical and tourist interest to visitors. Its traditions, ancestral institutions, landmarks, and communal structures provide a window into the rich heritage of the Ohafia people.

The Historical Origins of Amaekpu

The history of Amaekpu cannot be properly recounted without reference to the broader history and migration of the Ohafia people.

Historically, the Ohafia people, led by Akpo Ukwu the Great, are said to have migrated around the 15th century AD from Owan, a town in the ancient Benin Kingdom, during the reign of Oba Ewuare.

The migrating group travelled northwards along the Nun River and eventually settled among the Obolo people at Andoni, where Akpo Ukwu died and, according to tradition, went to rest with the ancestors.

Following his death, the group, under the leadership of Atita Akpo, left Andoni and migrated eastwards towards Isieke Ibeku. From there, they eventually continued their journey towards what is present-day Ohafia.

During the migration, Onyerubi Atita, the son of Atita Akpo, was unable to continue with the group because his wife was in labour. He therefore remained in Abam with his pregnant wife while the rest of the group continued their journey.

Meanwhile, Ezeama Atita, Onyerubi’s brother, continued with the Mben people. The group eventually settled in present-day Elu, having made stops at Udara Abuo and Ugwu Mgbo along the way.

The Founding of Amaekpu

Among those who participated in this historic migration was Nna Ofali Agwu, who by this time was already very elderly, together with members of his extended family.

As the population increased and the need for additional farmland and living space became more pressing, members of Ofali Agwu’s younger generation began exploring new territories.

Under the leadership of his son, Ukpolugu Ofali, together with his nephews Ajaiyi Aworo and Ukpai Eze, they ventured into the area that is now known as Amaekpu. They conquered and displaced the original inhabitants of the territory and established a new settlement for their people.

Following the establishment of the settlement, Nna Ofali Agwu instituted the leadership structure that has continued to guide the affairs of Amaekpu through generations.

Thus, the foundations of Amaekpu were laid—not only as a place of settlement, but as a community bound together by ancestry, leadership, tradition, and a shared history.

Nde Ofali: The Ancestral Home

The ancestral home of Amaekpu remains Nde Ofali, which stands as an important symbol of the community’s origins and ancestral heritage.

It represents the historical roots of the people and serves as a reminder of the lineage from which the various families and compounds of Amaekpu emerged.

Okpocha Square: The Community Meeting Place

Another important institution in the life of Amaekpu is Okpocha Square, where the people traditionally gather to deliberate and make important decisions concerning the community.

Beyond being a physical meeting place, Okpocha Square represents the communal spirit of Amaekpu—the tradition of consultation, collective responsibility, dialogue, and decision-making that has helped preserve the unity of the people across generations.

A Living Heritage

Today, Amaekpu remains a community deeply conscious of its history and ancestral heritage. Its four sections, seventeen compounds, ancestral institutions, meeting places, landmarks, and traditions collectively tell the story of a people whose identity has been shaped by migration, courage, leadership, resilience, and communal solidarity.

For visitors, Amaekpu offers more than a destination. It offers an opportunity to encounter the history and living culture of the Ohafia people, through the places, traditions, and stories that have been preserved and passed from one generation to another.