HISTORY OF UMUTI COMMUNITY IN NDOKWA EAST LGA, DELTA STATE
(Motto: LAND OF PEACE AND UNITY)
According to local history and oral tradition, Umuti was founded in the 16th century by Esike and Ogonna. While Esike migrated from Ofagbe, in Isoko north local government area of Delta state. Ogonna, his mutual friend believed to have joined him from Azagba, in Ndokwa east local government area. That was one of the reasons Umuti and Azagba people are bonded in peace covenant till date.
Esike’s mother was of the descendant of Umuebu (Akashiede) who migrated from Benin Kingdom. Akashiede in today history are the founders of Umuebu, in Ukwuani region in the 14th-15 century. Esike mother’s name was Nwakaego, while his father’s name was Esa from the lineage of Umuebu that joined Umukpe and Umuogbo families who migrated from different parts of Benin Kingdom to establish Ofagbe.
Esike was fluent in speaking Igbo and Isoko languages. This would have influenced the name “Umuti” meaning children of Sugarcane( a combination of Igbo and Isoko languages).
Esike got married to two wives namely Orenavie from Okpe-Isoko and Ugbocha from Umu-Eri, Aguleri, Anambra state.
Both wives gave birth to two sons namely; Isibama and Onwusa plus daughters. Umuti community is therefore a blend of Igbo and Isoko origin.
Ogonna got married to an Igbo woman and blessed with children.
Umuti as an ancient community in Ndokwa east local government area has co-existed with its neighbouring communities like Aboh, Akarai Obodo, Akarai Etiti, Azagba, Afriankwo, Iyowo, Onogbokor, Iyede-Ame and Umoulu. These communities entered into a peaceful covenants for cooperative development in the area of agricultural activities and military warriors in the 17th,18th and 19th century to strengthen the coastal regional forces against possible invaders.
Umuti people are predominantly farmers, fishermen and most importantly warriors.
Due to high demand for military warriors and farming expedition, Esike and Ogonna welcomed like minded able men from Ofagbe, Okpe Isoko, Ibrede, Oyede etc. This gesture increased the population of Umuti. At the earlier years they ventured into mass cultivation of Sugarcane which brought great fortune and popularity. According to oral history, Umuti derived her name from the fortune of sugarcane production and its economic opportunities.

# The economy of Umuti.
Umuti people are farmers, fishermen and most importantly warriors which brought great fortune, especially in the cultivation of Sugarcane, Palm kennel and oil production on farm settlement of over two thousand hectares with registered survey plans.
They were also known for carving canoes in commercial quantities and for traditional warriors who were hired as emissary to rescue kidnapped victims along River Niger coastal region.
Umuti market day comes every four day of the week called Uje. The market attracts buyers of Cassava, fufu, plantain, Sugarcane, Palm oil etc. Umuti is listed as of one of the OML 26 HOST-COMMUNITY stakeholders in Ndokwa east LGA.

Political structure:

Umuti is made of the following quarters/villages with over 2000 registered voters:
1). Odabutu.
2). Ogbekolobi.
3). Enami.
4). EgwoIsoko.
5). Egwo-gbogwo.
6). Atalakpa.
7), Utuera.
Under the chieftaincy Act of 2008 as amended,SCHEDULE(Section 38(1) page 33, Umuti became an autonomous community as a sub-clan in Akarai Clan.
In 2024, Umuti community was granted a statutory clanship as published by the Pointer newspaper dated 24th June, 2024.
Besides each quarters/ villages headed by a chief, there is traditional and customary leader called the Okpara-Uku, now known as the Odiologbo of Umuti Kingdom.
Umuti people are politically conscious and has always been in the ruling party, PDP now APC are in WARD 05 Aboh division INEC federal ward.
Umuti community is governed and categorised into age-group:

A). Odiologbo as the paramount ruler.
B). Edios are the members of the council.
C). Abike-Edios.
D). Oletu groups
E). Oge- foot soldiers of Umuti community.
F). The Women wing lead by a woman leader.
G). The Umuti development association lead by President General and Exco members.

Custom and Cultural Festivals:

Umuti people are known for two cultural festivals;
1). Odimodi yearly festival which is celebrated to commemorate the traditional believe of the deity support in preserving of lives. Christianity has taken over significantly.
2). Orie-ewu festival which commemorates the peace covenant between Umuti and Umoulu. Usually celebrated every four years.
3). Like the common masquerade in Ndokwa east local government, Umuti has Umawo masquerade and Ajarotor dance.
4) Umuti people speak Isoko and Kwale-Aboh languages
5) Umuti people conducts marriages according to Isoko custom of marriage.
6) Esike as founder of Umuti town planted four significant LANDMARKS called OTOR

Sports and Youth development:

Umuti youths are traditionally known for wrestling and playing of football.

Forest reserves and neighbourhood security:

Umuti people has a formidable vigilante group called the “Honey Badger” they are traditionally and spiritually fortified against any possible invader. They also act as security intelligence gathering to the local government area security outfit.

# Education and Social Amenities:
Umuti in its Educational pursuit and Government drive for human development, the Roman Catholic missionary in 1914 established RCM educational centre which later became a primary school in 1943. In the 1970s the primary was renamed Esike primary school, Umuti.
Delta state government provided centralized borehole water scheme for the community.
Delta state government established a primary health care Centre to cater for the aged, mother-child medication and the indigenes in general

UMUTI IS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN NDOKWA EAST AND ISOKO NORTH LGA.

Compiled and forwarded by : Prince(Dr) Frank Ojotomobo Egbodo

Sources of information:
Oral tradition, landmarks and historical evidences.
Bendel state of Nigeria, chieftaincy declaration review commission (Archive).
Law of Delta state of Nigeria, the chieftaincy Act 1997, and 2008 as amended.
The office of the Surveyor General of Delta state, ministry of lands survey and urban.
Facebook page of Precious Ajirioghene Adugbo(19th August 2025).

HRH Clark Egbodo,the Odiologbo of Umuti Kingdom