Lol important context is missing. It were a *few* western izon & they assisted under the suzerainty of Benin’s military prowess.
Aside from that, many went against Benin expansion into delta & coastal areas. Autonomy & Sovereignty were still maintained strongly.
The Ijaw people, who were originally called Izon, were a vital part of the Great Benin Empire. The highest traditional head in the Ijaw community are known as Pere, and these Pere were dukes under the Great Oba of Benin.
* Ijaw clans, including the Mein Clan, have oral histories that suggest their founding fathers migrated from the Benin region. Historically, clans like the Kalanama would visit the Oba of Benin to gain royal approval and receive the symbols of office necessary to establish themselves as recognized Pere.
* Both historical records and cultural traditions indicate that the Ijaw people, formerly known as Izon, acted as the naval force and expert river navigators for the Benin Empire. The Benin Empire spanned inland territories and coastal creeks where many Ijaw people reside, and the Oba of Benin relied on the Ijaws for maritime operations, military transport, and coastal defense.