Imo State

Imo State is one of the 36 States of Nigeria, located in the southeast region of the country. Formed in 1976 when it split from the former East-Central State, Imo State is bordered by Abia State on the east, Delta State to the West, Anambra State on the north, and Rivers State to the south. The state capital, Owerri, is often described as the entertainment capital of Nigeria.[5]

Imo State is a predominantly Igbo speaking state, with Igbo people constituting an estimated 98% of the state populaton.[6] During the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), the present day borders of Imo State were part of the Republic of Biafra, a secessionist state formed by Igbo nationalists. Secessionist sentiment remains commonplace in modern Imo State, with the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) being headquartered in the district of Okigwe.[7]

Ranked 34th out of 36 states in area, Imo State occupies the area between the lower River Niger and the upper and middle Imo River. The state economy is highly dependent on agricultural production, especially the production of palm oil, which a majority of citizens rely on for cooking.[8][9]