Otuocha

Otuocha is a town and Headquarters of Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. It was previously a divisional headquarters of Anambra Divisional council during the first (1st) Republic and also the old Local Government Headquarters of Old Anambra local government area that was broken to create the following four prevalent local governments: Anambra East, Anambra West, Oyi and Ayamelum LGAs.

It has a large population as many people from different ethnic groups in Nigeria dwell in the land. These people include not only the original Igbo natives of Umuleri and Aguleri but others from other parts of Igbo land as well as Hausa, Ijaw, Yoruba, etc. Otuocha is an important town in Nigeria east of the Niger as it serves as the food basket to the entire people of Southeastern States.

The history of Otuocha has been the source of problem that exist between the two major groups that live in Otuocha land. Oral source had it that Otuocha land was earlier known as Otuoche and was a farmstead (Farmland) belonging to the people of Egbeagu village Eziagulu Aguleri. The small parcel of land that was later expanded and known as Otuocha and the land was then known as otu ndi ocha as early white man who first settled at the shores of omambala used to keep their own shore clean where they used to take their bath (referring to the "Port" or shores of otu ndi ocha), being the fact that it is at the bank of the Great Omambala River where many other "ports" or local "wharfs" are located. Though at the beginning, it was a very small portion within the shores of the Omambala (Anambra) River but with migration and expansion, it extends to includes some parts of Aguarkor in the west and Offianwagbo in the East. Since then the town has been known as Otuocha.

The Major people living in the town of Otuocha are the Aguleri and Umuleri (Pronounced "Umueri") people. Whereas, the Aguleri dwell mostly in the northern part of the town and sothern part of the town, Umueri are found mostly in the southern part of the town, along the tarred road leading from Oya-Agu Abagana to Otuocha market. Another groups found in the town are the Umuoba Anam who co-habits the central part of the town along with the two hosts. There are other groups from other part of Igboland living as tenants and residents in the town and these include the Hausa, Ijaw and Yoruba communities.

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