SEIMBIRI-IKIBIRI (ESINYEBIRI) IBE

SEIMBIRI-IKIBIRI (ESINYEBIRI) IBE: The Seimbiri are in present day Delta State. The ancestors of the Seimbiri also came from the same ancient town which was the Isoma-bou. A raid on the ancient settlement by the Tarakiri of Oweikorogha and other participants all of whom had obtained firearms from the Kalabari and Nembe, (everything points to a slave raid, since the Tarakiri state a vague reason that one of their people was killed by the Isomabou community). The raid was devastating and many of the surviving citizens dispersed to other areas of Ijo. The eldest man of the community with his family were hid in a pit, his name was also Ogbo. Many of the survivors moved into the Ekpetiama area and founded the town of Ikibiri. They are the remnants of Ogbo (i.e. Ogbo the son of Ujo). Other ancestors who descended from Oromo, Temezibai and Esinyebiri, all offspring’s of Ogbo I and migrants from Benin City Ijo (1500), moved to the western Delta and founded the communities of Oboro, Okpokunu, and Inikorogha. Some went east and became part ancestors of the Okrika or Wakirikeni and Epie-Atissa. Others went north to Akiri in Aboh, and some to Opukuma (i.e. Akaranbiri) and lastly some stayed briefly with the Mein, before moving into the Obotebe area. One of the main principal ancestors, are the founders of Oboro led by Zado, the son of Pere Akan at Ogobiri, whose mother was from Isomabou-Ikibiri lineage. Other ancestors include Peremodenghan who founded Enekorogha (Inikorogha), Deinbunughan, who helped establish Oboro, Alei who founded Aleibiri, Asonde who migrated westwards and founded another Enekorogha along Beni (Benin) River, Die who founded Diebiri (Ogbe Izon in Warri). Temezibai the ancestor of Okpokunu was the son of Aforo, who was of the Isomabou-Ikibiri lineage. The foundation of the Seimbiri in the western delta is post-14th century.

Summary – The ancestors of the Ekpetiama, Seimbiri, Ogboin, Boma & Tarakiri (from Agadagba-bou) are derived ultimately from the Isoma-bou/Opuan-bou ancient town founded by Opu-Ogbo and his group of settlers, with ancestors joining them later from Beni-Ijo. It was from this ancient settlement that ancestors left between 1000 –1600 AD in different phases and family lineages to esyablsh new communiies. Others founded Obiama and from this town subsequent towns and villages became the aforementioned clans.