The
Ikwerre (also spelt
Ikwere) are one of the many native ethnic groups in the Niger Delta region of
Nigeria. They are a subgroup of the
Igbo people, although a small minority for political expediency now dispute this account, claiming their history was rewritten during the colonial period because of the dominance of the larger Igbo group. The Ikwerre are said to be related or share common ancestry with the
Ogba and
Ekpeye people (Akalaka brothers). They trace their origins to
Owerri,
Ohaji,
Etche, and
Ngwa areas of Igboland. They constitute the majority of
Rivers state, although there are other populations in
neighboring states. The Ikwerre speak the Ikwerre dialect, a dialect part of the many diverse Igbo dialects, and are predominantly settled in the Ikwerre,
Obio-Akpor,
Port Harcourt and
Emohua local government areas. They are traditionally farmers, fishermen and hunters, but in recent times, the
environmental degradation and
urban sprawl associated with oil exploration and exploitation has caused a sharp decline in the amount of farmland, forests and rivers available for their traditional occupations.