The Arochukwu Ibini Ukpabi Shrine, also known as the Long Juju of Arochukwu, stands as one of the most storied spiritual and historical sites in southeastern Nigeria. Nestled within the dense forests of Arochukwu in Abia State, this sacred site was once a powerful oracle revered across Igbo land and beyond.
For centuries, the Ibini Ukpabi served as a supreme court of justice where disputes were settled, oaths taken, and verdicts pronounced through divination. The shrine also held a darker chapter during the transatlantic slave trade, as those found guilty, sometimes through manipulation were condemned to a “journey of no return” through secret tunnels leading to rivers that connected to slave routes.
Visitors today can explore the sacred groves, the judgment hall, the dark passageway known as the “tunnel of doom,” and streams believed to possess spiritual powers. The site offers deep insight into the Aro Confederacy’s influence, blending spirituality, politics, and commerce in precolonial Nigeria.
