OYIAKIRI OR BENI IBE

OYIAKIRI OR BENI IBE: The Oyaikiri are in present day Bayelsa State. The ancestors of the Oyiakiri were descendands of OPU-Beni the main Ijo ancestor who settled the Benin region. The Beni or Oyakiri came from Benin City (they were Beni-Ijo), during the time of civil war between Oba Esigie and Prince Oru-Ayan). Again like the Obotebe traditions, the ancestor Orumo who lived initially at Aboh, moved into the central delta and became the founding ancestor of Beni Ibe. Their alternative name Oyakiri was from Orumo's son Oyia whom they descended from. The ancestors first founded Toru-Ibeni, later ancestors moving into the Kunu creek and founding Ayama-Beni. (i.e. New-Town of Beni) It was from Ayama-Beni that the other settlements of Beni Ibe were founded. i.e. Adagbabiri and Odoni. Foundation time post-14th century i.e. 1500 upwards. Other towns also descended from these ancestors are Onya in Aboh district, Obukoro, Ogbo-Oru in Atani, Gbaranbiri in Opukuma, Ibutibe, Opu-Odoni or Orubiri.