Eri therefore left Egypt, crossed the river Nile and entered southern Sudan from where he entered Chad.
From Chad, he crossed the Benue river and came to Lokoja, then traversed the river Niger and came ashore near the confluence of the Ezu and Omambala Rivers called Agbanabo or Ezu Na Omambala[4], here it was spiritually revealed to him that he was to settle.
This location is present-day Aguleri in Anambra state, though at the time it was not known as Aguleri.
Eri had two wives by the time he arrived at the Ezu Na Omambala confluence, Nneamaku, and Oboli who were the first and second wife respectively. Nneamaku bore five children Nri-Ifikwuanịm-Menri being the first son also known as Nri, Agụlụ, Ogbodudu, Onogu, and Iguedo the only daughter, while Oboli the second wife bore an only child Onoja.
Onoja founded present-day Igala in Kogi state[6]. Eri’s first son Nri-Ifikwuanịm begot Agụkwu Nri, Enugwu-Ukwu, Enugwu-Agidi, Ná»fịa, and Amá»bia. His sister Iguedo begot Ogbunike, Ọkuzu, Nando, Ụmụleri, and Nteje which are known today as the Umu Iguedo clan. Onogu begot Ịgbariam.
Eri’s first son Nri-Ifikwuanim was a spiritual priest like his father. He left Aguleri and settled at a thick forest he called Agu-Ukwu Nri[7] which is the present-day Nri Kingdom. Here he engaged in hunting, farming and also performed priestly duties and demonstrated his spiritual prowess just as his father Eri did in Egypt, by the cleansing of abominations, expert use of herbs and roots and giving honourable titles to his subjects.
When Eri died Agulu took over leadership and that was how the Aguleri name came about. “Agulu” and “Eri” are often referred to being saying “Agulu Nwa Eri” in Igbo language meaning “Agulu, the son of Eri”. It was from that location that the Igbos multiplied, spread and founded other Igbo communities. When Nrifikwuanim-Menri grew old and was nearing his end, it was not his wish to die outside of his ancestral home; therefore, he instructed his children to take him back to present day Aguleri.
There he eventually died and was buried. Till present day his grave site is still marked and can be seen at Okpu community in Ivite village of Aguleri. Oral history passed down from older generations in Aguleri tells of the magical springing up of three gigantic trees barricading the entrance to his grave, the trees are said to share a common root and are so enormous that to get a complete view one has to go back many miles.
