CHALLENGES OF IGBO MIGRATION INTO CAMEROON: THE ORLU EXPERIENCE ON THE SEA ROUTE, 1970-1997

Abstract

This paper examines the challenges encountered on the sea route by migrants from the Orlu area of Igboland into Cameroon in post-civil war Nigeria. The Igbo people, predominantly and indigenously found in the present South-East States of Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi, and in South-South States of Rivers and Delta, constitute one of the major and distinct ethnic groups in Nigeria. They are, like very many other cultural groups in Nigeria, historically involved in several forms of migration outside their indigenous area of settlement dating from pre-colonial times. However, the incidence of the Nigeria-Biafra War and its aftermaths intensified Igbo migration drifts outside the shores of Nigeria. One important destination since the end of the war has been Cameroon, but it is not without its challenges where the main route before now has been through the sea. This paper, therefore focuses on the post war causes of the Orlu migration to Cameroun; the challenges encountered thereto on the sea; and how to address them. The argument is that the Orlu migration through the sea into Cameroon as part of the larger Igbo mass exodus after the war has posed a serious problem as lives and property were often lost in the course of these journeys. Findings show that aside the Cameroon’s attractions those out-movements were mostly encouraged by the Nigerian government failure to address the plight of the Igbo people after the war, hence it suggests serious federal government actions in terms of economic rebuilding and infrastructure development in the Igbo areas of Nigeria. The paper is historical, and makes use of primary and secondary sources of data.