Isoko people

The Isoko people are an ethnolinguistic group that inhabits the Isoko region of Delta State, Nigeria.

Language

The language spoken by the Isoko people is the Isoko language. It is linguistically similar to that spoken by the neighboring Urhobo.

The Isoko ethnic group is one of the smallest minority ethnic groups in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria in West Africa, occupying an area of about 1,200 square kilometres, with a residual population of over 750,000 by 2001 census.

The Isoko Land is one of the most densely populated areas in Nigeria, with about 300 persons per square kilometre compared with the average of 198 for Delta State and 130 for Nigeria. The consequence has been shortage of farmland, a shortage accentuated by oil exploration activities in the region.

Not surprisingly, a lot of Isoko people estimated over 470,000 are migrants to other parts of the country, residing in Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, Benin, Ijebu Ode, Ondo, Lagos, Kano and predominately in the rural agricultural land areas of Benin, Ondo and Ijebu-Ode. Also, some 300,000 Isoko people are permanent indigenes of Ndokwa East of Delta State and Sagbama Local Government area of Bayelsa state.

Isoko Land is essentially rural with no urban and semi-urban centres. Isoko land is within the economic shadow of the vibrant industrial, commercial Warri metropolis and the result has been largely of backlash effects, with most of the young men and women in addition to available capital in Isoko land graduating to Warri sub-urban area.

The residual population is mainly into agriculture, small-scale commercial and industrial enterprises. Against this background of the petty economic activities, massive unemployment of youths is very high, the quality of life is low and below the standard of living recommended by the United Nations Development Organisation and poverty is rife in Isoko Land.

The poor conditions and living standard of the Isoko people in Delta State can no longer be accepted as normal but lamentable. There should be no denial of the fact that the Isoko people live in this century, with the lack of basic infrastructural amenities such as clean drinking water, electricity and adequate transportation, good roads and massive employment opportunities, in a region abundantly blessed and endowed with naturally resources controlled by the State.

The Isoko people and the land of Isoko have been neglected by previous political governments and administrations, forgotten in both national and state consideration for rural development.

The Isoko Land, unlike the case with several neglected undeveloped minority and even some majority groups, has oil wells, the pivot of Nigeria’s continued financial and political existence and relevance in the world map.

The Oil wells at Olomoro, Uzere in Isoko land have contributed immensely to the foreign exchange earning potentials for over for 30 years of Nigeria. Ironically the National, State and Local governments cannot at present name a single sustainable project established in the area, since oil exploration activity licences have been granted to multi-national companies in the area.

The Isoko people are very non-violent, law abiding, obedient, mostly Christians, co-operative and loyal especially to constituted authority such as National and State governments but this obedience and loyalty, may have been the undoing of the Isoko people, considering the unrest in other areas of the Niger-Delta region, where some much attention have been focused recently.

The need to transform the Isoko Community from a traditional one to a 21st. century modern society, is imperative now if the global goal to combat poverty in sub-Saharan Africa is to be achieved. Indeed, the encouragement of the establishment of small scale industries and commercial enterprises is one option to be supported by the State, Individuals and Organisations. However, the lack and inadequate electricity power supply to the area has been a major bane in the commercial and industrial development of the Isoko Community.

The time has come now for the governments of Nigeria both national and state levels to fully appreciate and recognise the social responsibility the governments owe to the suffering in silence people of Isoko land and appreciate the level of poverty the absence of the state initiated and driven sustainable development programmes, have caused in Isoko land.

Origins

While some people believed that the Isoko people originated from the Benin Kingdom, others, like Professor Obaro Ikime, believe this to be untrue. Ikime states "If there is any aspect of the history of the various peoples of Nigeria about which no one can speak with any exactitude, it is that which deals with the origins of our peoples." The belief that most of the Isoko groups are of Benin origin were views held and expressed in the 1960s and 1970s. These views were "decidedly simplistic and were based on British Intelligence Reports of the 1930s" and Ikime's field work of 1961-1963.

Religion

The Isoko people are predominantly Christians. Traditional idol worship still thrives despite the strong onslaught of Christian principles. Oghene is the word for God.