Urhobo Migrants and Tin Mining in Jos, 1940-1970

Abstract

The Urhobo of present-day Delta State of Nigeria are generally migrants, who have settled in different parts of the country. Existing studies on Urhobo migrant communities in Nigeria have focused mainly on their settlement and agricultural activities
in Southwestern Nigeria (Ikale, Okitipupa e Ilaje) with little attention paid to their migration to the Jos Plateau.
This paper was, therefore, designed to examine the migration and involvement of Urhobo migrants in tin mining on the Jos Plateau with a view to analysing their contributions to the socio-economic development and involvement in political activities of
their host community as well as their connection to their homeland since 1940.
An historical approach was adopted, and an interpretative design was used. Primary and secondary sources were utilized. Primary sources included Provincial Reports, Ordinances and Intelligence Reports as well as newspapers and magazines.
Oral interviews were conducted with key informants who were purposively selected based on their knowledge of Urhobo migrants’ experience and lifestyle in Jos. Data were subjected to historical analysis.
Keywords: Urhobo, migrations, tin mining, Nigeria.