Obua Ajukwu was a military leader of Oguta, known as Ndanike (the ancestor of the Umundanike people). He owned many slaves who travelled around Igboland with him. His father Ajukwu led the Edo people from the Benin Empire through Sapele and Ekumeku to Ugwunta. In 1620 they settled between the people of Awo and Ohaji. In the 1600s, the Benin Empire was invaded by the Portuguese and Italians who came from Ethiopia. This led to the movement of the Bini people, migrating down-west. Obua Ajukwu would grow up to be the teacher of the man became known as Jaja of Opobo.