Opobo

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Opobo is a city in Rivers state, southern Nigeria. As of 2007 Opobo had an estimated population of 131,579.^[1]

A key centre of the palm oil trade, Opobo was founded in 1869 by Jaja, an Igbo slave-boy who had risen to become a powerful merchant prince in Bonny.^[2] Under Jaja, Opobo briefly dominated the region's palm oil market, but was removed by the British in 1887 for blocking British access to Nigeria's interior. After Jaja's arrest and exile to Saint Vincent in the West Indies, Opobo rapidly declined in power.^{[citation needed]}

Opobo was formerly a part of the the Bonny Local Government Area (LGA). After the creation of more LGAs, Andoni/Opobo LGA emerged with Andoni (Ngo) as the headquarters. In a further development, the Opobo/Nkoro LGA was created.

[edit] References

1. ^ "The World Gazetteer". Retrieved on 2007-04-06.
2. ^ "The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition". Retrieved on 2007-04-06.

Coordinates: 4°34′N, 7°33′E