Many are found as migrant fishermen in camps and settlements in Benue,[16] and Kogi states and as far west as Sierra Leone, Ghana[17] and as far east as Gabon.

King Frederick William Koko (Mingi VIII) of the Nembe-Brass Kingdom (1853–1898) led a successful attack on the British Royal Niger Company trading post in 1895.

It includes numerous communities such as Kolo, Oloibiri, Anyama-Ogbia, Abureni, Okodi, Epebu, Ewoma, Onuebum, Emadike, Opume, Ogbia Town, Emakalakala or Amakalakala, Otokpein, Otuedu, Otuoke, Immiringi, and others.

Other Central Ijaw subgroups include the Biseni people, Akinima, Mbiama, Engeni, and some communities in the Ahoada East region of Rivers State.

In Akwa Ibom, the Ijaws, primarily of Andoni-Obolo clan,[45][9] inhabit areas near the Rivers State border, with populations in Ibeno, Inua Eyet Ikot, and surrounding locations.

Some Eastern Ijo clans and communities include;[46] Found in areas such as Abonnema, Buguma, Krakrama, Kula, Degema, Bille, and others.

Communities include Azuabie, Bolo, Dikibo-ama, George-ama, Ibaka, Ibuluya, Isaka, Kalio-ama, Oba-ama, Ogboloma, Ogu, Okrika, Okujagu-ama, Waka-ama, and others.

Their journey included a brief stop at Oporoza, led by Eji, his brother Perebiyenmo, and their sister Fiyepatei, before moving to Ukparomo, now known as Akpata, Opuba, Ajapa, and Ukpe.

They settled there for a period, roughly spanning the reign of two Agadagbas (military priest-rulers of the Egbesu shrine), before establishing their current settlement and forming the Arogbo Ibe.

[50] Historically, the Apois live on higher ground compared to other Ijaw clans and are unique in speaking a dialect of Yoruba similar to what is spoken by the Ilajes and Ikales.

[53] In Edo, the Ijaws are found in parts of the Ovia Southeast Local Government Area, with clans including Egbema, Furupagha, Olodiama-West, and Okomu-Ijaw (Ukomu).

Some towns and communities in this area include Abere, Ajakurama, Ajatitition, Ayakoroma, Binidogha, Gbelebu, Gbelekanga, Ikoro, Ikusangha, Inekorogha, Ingileuba, Itagbene, Ofoniama (Ofunama), Okomu-Ijaw (Ukomu), Siluko, Turukubu, Zide, and others.

Another contributing factor to this human capital flight is the abject poverty in their homeland of the Niger Delta, resulting from decades of neglect by the Nigerian government and oil companies in spite of continuous petroleum prospecting in this region since the 1950s.

[61] The Ijaw people live by fishing supplemented by farming paddy-rice, plantains, Cassava, yams, cocoyams, bananas and other vegetables as well as tropical fruits such as guava, mangoes and pineapples; and trading.

In this marriage system, children trace their lineage through either their mother’s or father’s side, allowing them the freedom to choose which heritage, culture, and traditions they wish to follow as they grow older.

A distinctive feature of the Ijaw traditional wedding ceremony is the bride’s expectation to remain composed and unemotional until she is fully satisfied with the gifts presented by the groom and his family.

The traditional attire of the Ijaw people reflects both elegance and cultural significance, incorporating rich fabrics and intricate accessories that showcase their heritage.

The headgear, usually a stiff fabric head tie, is an essential part of the outfit, worn in various stylish formations to complement the blouse and wrappers.

The Don ensemble was heavy on the body and featured an elaborate display of wealth, including a cache of jewels, expensive beads, gold studs, and other coral ornaments.

The different garments and accessories worn by both men and women reflect the rich history, cultural pride, and social standing that the Ijaw people continue to uphold.

[72] Important deities in the Ijaw religion include Egbesu, whose totems are the leopard, panther, and lion, and who manifests as a god of war, protection and of justice.

Some of these foods are:[76] Formerly organized into several loose clusters of villages or confederacies, the Ijaw people were autonomous groups that cooperated primarily for defense against outsiders.

[66] This sense of unity has been significantly strengthened by the environmental degradations that have followed the exploitation of oil in the Niger Delta region, the ancestral homeland of the Ijaw.

The Ijaw have also been frustrated by a revenue-sharing formula with the Nigerian Federal Government, which they perceive as unjust, with a disproportionate share of the nation's wealth flowing to other regions while the Niger Delta remains impoverished and environmentally degraded.

These grievances have fueled a growing sense of injustice and have been a catalyst for numerous high-profile clashes with the Nigerian authorities, including kidnappings, protests, and violent confrontations.

Long before the colonial era, the Ijaw were known for their seafaring abilities, traveling by wooden boats and canoes to distant lands, including Cameroon, Ghana, and other parts of West Africa.

The Ijaw’s maritime skills and extensive trade networks are a testament to their adaptability, resourcefulness, and the depth of their cultural heritage, which endures despite the challenges they face today.

The IYM pledged “to struggle peacefully for freedom, self-determination and ecological justice,” and prepared a campaign of celebration, prayer, and direct action 'Operation Climate Change' beginning December 28, 1998.

[87] In December 1998, two warships and 10–15,000 Nigerian troops occupied Bayelsa and Delta states as the Ijaw Youth Movement (IYM) mobilized for Operation Climate Change.

[88] On January 4, 1999, about one hundred soldiers from the military base at Chevron’s Escravos facility attacked Opia and Ikiyan, two Ijaw communities in Delta State.