Impacts of Rivers Niger, Benue and Anambra on socio- economic development of pre-colonial Igala society

Abstract

This paper examines the impacts of the Rivers Niger, Benue and Anambra on the socio-economic development of the pre-colonial Igala society. The Igala society is geographically congured in between these three rivers: Niger to the left, Benue to the north and Anambra to the south. This study, therefore, assesses the sociopolitical and economic roles which these rivers played in precolonial Igala society with a view to bridging a gap in the historiography of the people. Thus, the rivers, dictated virtually all facets of the people's endeavours. The three rivers played more important roles in the pre-colonial Igala society, than what they are today. This study is therefore, achieved by interrogating evidences obtained from primary sources and secondary sources. The study also brings to the fore the challenges posed by these rivers during their annual over-ooding and how the people were able to overcome such challenges.