History

The history of Edo State is not complete without knowing the journey that gave birth to the
state, Edo
The agitation for the creation of the Mid-Western Region began in 1948 with the formation of
the Benin community under the leadership of Oba Akenzua II of Benin. The organization
demanded the creation of a Benin-Delta or Mid-Western Region

The Mid-Western Region was a division of Nigeria through a referendum from 1963 to 1991,
formally known as Bendel state from 1976. It was formed in June 1963 from Benin and Delta
provinces of the Western Region, and its capital was Benin City. It was renamed a province in
1966, and in 1967 when the other provinces were split up into several states, it remained
territorially intact, becoming a state.
During the Nigerian Civil War, the Biafran forces invaded the new Mid-Western state, en route
to Lagos, in an attempt to force a quick end to the war. While under Biafran occupation, the
state was declared as the “Republic of Benin” as Nigerian forces were to retake the region. The
republic collapsed a day after the declaration as Nigerian troops overtook Benin City. Edo State
was formed on August 27, 1991 when Bendel State was split into Edo and Delta States
The main ethnic groups in Edo State are Edos, Afemais, Esans, Owans and Akoko Edos. Virtually
all the groups traced their origin to Benin City hence the dialects of the groups vary with their
distance from Benin City. The Bini speaking people who occupy seven out of the 18 Local
Government Areas of the state constitute 57.54% while others Esan (17.14%) Afemai
comprising Etsako (12.19%), Owan (7.43%), and Akoko Edo
Edo State is an inland state in central southern Nigeria. Its capital is Benin City. It is bounded in
the north and east by Kogi State, in the south by Delta State and in the west by Ondo State. Edo
State was formed on August 27, 1991 when Bendel State (Edo-Delta) was split into Edo and
Delta States.
The major first languages spoken in the state are Edo, Etsako, Esan and Owan, Akoko Edo,
Okpameri, Ikale language and Ijaw. Edo State is home to several ethnicities, among them the
Bini, Esan, Afemai, Emai, and Ijaw.