Part 2 — Chapter 12

Chapter XII WARS FOR THE CONSOLIDATION AND BALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN IBADANS, EGBAS AND IJEBUS § I. The Evacuation of Apomu We have seen above that the people ot Apomu being Ifes alHed themselves with Maye at the Gbanamu war, hence after the destruction of Erunmu, they were afraid that the next wave will overwhelm themselves. They theiefore sent an Oyo resident at Apomu, chief Agbeni by name, to encamp on the further side of the river Osun as an outpost, to watch and report upon the move- ments of the Ibadan army. But the Ibadans were not meditating any revenge on them; yet they were so ill at ease that they would not even wait for a report from their outpost, but one chiet after another, one master of a large compound after another deserted the town for Ipetumodu till only the Oyo lefugees remained at Apomu. At Ipetumodu they were however restless ; it seemed unreason- able that they should be famishing in another town when food could be obtained in their own farms ; therefore bands of pillagers and kidnappers issued daily from Ipetumodu to the Apomu farms destroying whatever they could not carry away. They also grew suspicious of Agbeni and sent a strong force to drive him away from the post where they had located him. But Agbeni was determined to maintain hisground, and he therefore despatched messengers to Ibadan to ask foi help. Only one desperate battle was fought between them, and the Ipetumodu men apprehending danger to themselves if they should wait to offer a second, as by that time reinforcements from Ibadan might have come, they retreated hastily home. The Ibadan army arrived too late and were disappointed to find the Apomu army gone ; they were loth to return home empty handed as they lived by plunder, they therefore began to loot the houses of the residents at Apomu. But these were their kinsmen, the Oyo refugees who were left behind by the townsmen, and nearly every one of them saw a friend or a relative whom he was in duty bound to protect from violence and robbery. These relatives went over to them and with them to Ibadan. Lakanl^ their leader took away all his, and his friend Agbeni came over also 347 24S THE HISTORY OF THE YORUBAS with him. Lanase went over with all his belongings to Osun the chief of the cavalry, and so Apomu became deserted. Agbeni was located in Lakanle's farm and the site has since been included in the overgrown town and known as Agbeni's quarter to this day with a market in front ot his house. Chief Agbeni survived Lakanle and all his contemporaries and died at a good old age in May i860. Thus the Oyo refugees at Apomu were merged with the Ibadan settlers, and helped to swell the population of that important town. The Ipetumodu and Owiwi Wars about A.D. 1819 The Apomu and Ipetumodu people having drawn attention to themselves, after a short respite the restless Ibadan chiefs declared war against Ipetumodu for allying with Apomu to kidnap the Ibadan caravans, who went to buy corn at Ikire, Iwo, He Igbo before the Erumu wars. Any pretext, however flimsy, would do when they were on mischief bent. It was just at this time that the Ijebus declared war against Abeokuta, and sought the alliance of the Ibadans. But they could not send them adequate help and advised the Ijebus rather to wait a while and let them get Ipetumodu off their hands. But the Ijebus would not wait, the Ibadans, therefore had to send them a small contingent under one Olugun^. The last decisive battle between the Ijebus and the Egbas was the cele- brated battle of Owiwi (a stream so called) where the Ijebus were sorely defeated; they lost all their principal fighting men and their power was completely crushed! Olugunk with his small force escaped to Oniyefun a town on the right bank of the river Ogun where he remained for a long time, apparently seeking for an opportunity to return home. The Ibadans on the other hand were successful in their own expedition, Ipetumodu was taken and those who escaped fled to He Ife their chief town. § 2. The Fall of Ilaro and Ijana During the siege at Owiwi the Ijebus sought and obtained the alhance of the Egbaluwe kings. Abinuwggbo the Onisare of Ijana sent his forces under the command of two of his war-chiefs Lapala and Ajise; the only war-chief remaining at home was Akere the Areagoro. Lapala fell in battle and the command devolved upon Ajige alone. The Ilaros sent no re-inforcement because of a great disaffection among the people towards their Olu on account of his t5n-annies. For a small matter which he might very well pass over, he would impose exorbitant fines, hence the affection ot his people was alienated from him and they were seeking an opportunity for his overthrow. His was a long reign, for this age of anarchy, and he did not retire to Oyo after three years, like his predecessors, to spend the rest of his days there as was customary. He became lame on both his feet, from poison by his people as was alleged. A private message was sent to the Egbas by the people inviting them to come and rid them of their tyrant, thinking they would come and simply remove the Olu and leave them in peace. The Egbas thereupon sent from Owiwi a detachment of 134 men under chief Angba who entered Ilaro without opposition, fired it, and began to kill and plunder indiscriminately ! As the Egbas cared more for booty than for captives the Olu (their principal objective) had an opportunity for making his escape to Ifoin, being borne on a litter by his slaves, while most of the Ilaro people escaped to Ijana. A bride was said to be so frightened by the hasty flight that she fell down dead at the gate of Ijana, and was buried behind the house of one Tagi the gate-keeper. They had scarcely had breathing time here when news came that the Egbas had gained a victory over the Ijebus at Owiwi and a rumour gained ground that they were coming to take vengeance on the 'Luwes of Ijana for allying themselves with the Ij ebus. The consternation became general when Ajise the surviving war-chief arrived home. Neither the Ilaro refugees, nor the Ijana people themselves could stay in the town any longer, all sought safety in flight, and so Ij§,na was deserted. The flight took place on a dark and stormy night, and hundreds of people were groping in darkness trying to find the way to the town gate. Fortunately it was only a rumour or the Egbas might have met them within the town for at break of day the dawn found them at Dekun's quarters late of Ijana. Ak^re the Areagoro the only war-chief left at home instead of preparing for the defence of the town deluded the people by having three lighted lamps burning at the three entrances to his house making it appear as if he was still at home whereas he had already escaped. An incident of interest occurred during this flight. A child of about 3 years of age was found the next day at Afehinte weeping, its mother having disencumbered herself ot it in her flight. A kind-hearted man Ajayi by name took it up from pity and carried it in his arms wherever he went. They did not meet the Areagoro at Refvu-efu but joined him at Osoro ; there the heartless mother seeing the child with Ajayi, claimed it but Ajayi refused to give it up till it was duly ransomed. The refugees left Osoro for Ifoin where they met the 01 u and here they were resolved to wait and offer some resistance in case of an attack, as they were afraid to proceed to Porto Novo. The Olu, however, left Ifoin for Itoho his maternal town, where he would wish to die ; here Sodeke with an Egba army met him and he was taken with his family and slain. One Okete the executioner carried the head about at Refurefu for money ; at the gate of whomsoever the Olu's head was placed Okete received 3 heads of cowries before removing it. It was brought to Abeokuta and was buried at the threshold of the main entrance to Sodeke's house. vSodeke took Ayawo the Olu's daughter to wife, but she had no child by him. After Sodeke's death she was " inherited " by Somoye, who subsequently became the Basorun of Abeokuta. She went with him to the late Ijaye war and was taken captive when Ijaye fell on the 31st March, 1862. The captor gave her up to Chief Ogumgla. She was sent back to her husband in the year 1865 and was the means of reconciliation between Ibadan and Abeokuta, after the return of the latter from the Ikorodu war. The accounts of these wars will be given below in due course. After Somoye's death Ayawo refused the hand ot Chief Ogundipe and went back to her early home at Ilaro where she died. After the death of the Olu Asade at Itohg the Ilaro refugees at Idggo near Igbeji created another Olu, Ojo Kosiwon by name. For 19 years he reigned at Idogo and after his death there was an interregnum of many years. Ilaro was, however, again repeopled but under Egba suzerainty, who created one Tela the Olu in 1857. Ilaro continued under the Egbas till the year 1891 when they gave themselves over to the British Government on account of the incessant raids and molestations of the Dahomians from which their Suzerain failed to protect them. They now form a Protectorate in the " Western Waters " of Lagos. § 3. The Oniyefun War After the return of the Ibadans from the Ipetumodu war, hearing of the disaster at Owiwi, and that their contingent under Oluguna had escaped to Oniyefun and was there hemmed in by the Egbas, some of the war-chiefs headed by Osun the chief of the cavalry, and Elepo also a great warrior, decided to go to their rescue. But Oluguna was met rather on the offensive, waging a desultory warfare in Egba territory. Being now re-inforced from home he commenced regular operations against the small and weaker Egba towns such as Imosai, Iboro, and Jiga. Jakg was deserted and these marauders were infesting the Isaga farms and wou)d have taken Isaga had not the Egbas sent a strong force to protect the place. After a short time, however, Elepo left them and returned to Ibadan and with him nearly all the other war-chiefs, as he was a man of great power and influence. The army at Oniyefun being now considerably reduced in number, the Egbas attacked it in full force ; several battles were fought and the Egbas gained an advantage at every engage- ment. They succeeded in cutting off all supplies and in laying a close siege against Oniyefun. All the Ibadan common soldiers under colour of going foraging escaped from the doomed town one by one never to return, but the war-chiefs themselves, with their immediate followers and bodyguards, could not leave without attracting attention or creating a panic and a rush, with an immediate destruction of the town. Osun fell in an engagement; being shot through the head he tumbled off his horse. Sogunro was wounded and Dado—late of Ijaye—who was also there, prevented Sogunro being taken to Jako as an invalid, lest they should lose the services of his fighting men. Dado remained the only war- chief in command, but he was no longer the commander he once was before his fall. He held out for only five days longer, and then left Oniyefun secretly with the other war-chiefs and escaped to Ibadan, leaving Oniyefun at the mercy of the invaders. The Ibadan war-chiefs who fell at Oniyefun besides Osun were : Sogunro, Keji, Ilupakin, lyanburu, Otopo, and Esan. § 4. The Arakanga or Jabara War The Ibadan war-chiefs were indignant at the fall of their comrades at Oniyefun, especially Osun who was held in high esteem, and were bent on avenging his death. This was really the cause of the Arakanga war, and not in order to show that they were more powerful than the Ijebus as some have erroneously averred. In this expedition they secured theallianceof Kurumiof Ijaye and Ayo of Abemo, whose contingent met the Ibadan army at Olokemeji. This expedition was one of the most stupid ever undeitaken by the Ibadans. Divided counsels prevailed and therefore no adequate preparation was made, one half of the so-called kegs of gunpowder carried before the chiefs contained nothing but yam flour, thereby deceiving the people who followed them. Some asserted that the Egbas were more afraid of poisoned arrows than of ballets and therefore never supplied themselves with fire-arms. Others went just mechanically because they were obliged to go, but without any preparation. We may here notice that this is how the junior chiefs behave when the war is unpopular, for they dare not remain behind when the head-chiefs march out. They marched out through the Ido gate and encamped by the Ogun river at Olokemeji for a long time till their stores were exhausted, and before the enemy was in sight ! Meantime their wives used the empty kegs as water pots. After a long time they pushed forward towards Abeokuta, and the Egbas met them a great way off. Four hard battles were fought and the Egbas retreated to Arakanga, a river behind their town wall. Here the Ibadans found themselves with their powder exhausted and no time to procure more from Porto Novo or Ado ; the arrows some depended upon were found to be of little use. Adekambi the war-chief sent from Abemo was the first to return home being disgusted at the conduct of the war. With him went a good many war-chiefs, and recruits which they met on their way back also returned home when they heard the ill report of the campaign. Five days after Adekambi had left the Egbas appeared in full force, determined on death or victory. At a given signal by the sound of their god Or6 to which they responded with a shout, they made a sudden dash and attacked the enemy vigorously, cutlass in hand. With their powder exhausted some of the Ibadans resorted to the gourd bark planted all over the battlefield, and with this they pelted their assailants. From this ciicumstance the campaign was termed the " Jabara war." At the height of the battle, Bada Akeyan one of the chief swordsmen fell ; and when another chief named Adelakun was mortally wounded, the Ibadans gave way and the rout was general and complete. This desperate method of attack—cutlass in hand—is the peculiar method of the Owus, the bravest element in the new settlement, and the honour of the victory was theirs. The Egbas however had not the courage to pursue their victory to any extent seeing amongst the war-chiefs many of those who had but recently driven them to Abeokuta : "a lion at bay " may prove a dangerous customer to tackle. The Ibadans instead of escaping home by the direct route went by way of Ijaye, being suspicious of the Ijebus. § 5. The Onidese and Oke Isero Wars After a short period of rest Kurfimi the chiei of Ijaye invited the Ibadans to an expedition against Onidese. He gave as a reason for this war that they were troublesome to him, but as a matter of fact, it was from pure jealousy at the growing importance of the people of that place and that of their neighbours of He Ode famous for their poisoned arrows. Seeing the overwhelming force from Ibadan and Ijaye, Owoko the chief of Ode was so terrified that he deserted the town with his people and escaped to Onidese, but this place was besieged and taken. Sejo the chief of Onidese and Owoko of He Ode were both taken together. Oke I§ero.—The following dry season the Ibadans captured Oke Isero for no alleged cause of grievance but simply out of a desire for slave raiding. The people of this place were quiet agriculturists. Ibadan and other towns were fed with yam flour exported from this place. § 6. The Iperu War After the defeat of the Ijebus by the Egbas at Owiwi there was a series of desultory warfare between them with little or no success. Neither of them could encamp or take a town from the other, neither would-yield though both were tired. Whereupon the Egbas had resort to a cowardly trick, at once disgraceful and perfidious. They proposed to the Ijebus of the Remo district who were their neighbours, terms of peace which these gladly accepted, being tired of the war, and a treaty was made between them. But while the Ijebus were rejoicing and congratulating one another in songs and dances:— " Omode Ijebu, E ku ewu Agba Ijebu, E ku ewu Ote yi jaja pari o ! " (Young folks of Ijebu, we congratulate you Old folks of Ijebu, we congratulate you. This long-drawn war is at an end at last). Suddenly, the Egbas who had lain in ambush sprang upon them and began to make captives of them. Makun and other towns were taken and destroyed and Iperu was besieged. The Ijebus beingharassedandgreatly straitened sent to Ibadan for help. All the war-chiefs were sent forward except Lakanle the Commander- in-chiet, who remained at home with the aged Oluyedun the Kakanfo, and the venerable Labgsinde the Baba Isale. The Egbas proved too strong for the allies, and all their efforts to raise the siege of Iperu were fruitless. The difficulty of pro- visioning a besieged town without stores at the best of times and with a large access of auxiliaries proved insurmountable. The allies lost several battles and the Egbas hemmed them in very closely. Iperu was nearly taken when the Ibadan allies sent home to their commander to come at once to their rescue as all hopes of deteating the Egbas were gone. Lakanle responded to the call of his people and took the field in person. On his arrival at Iperu he assumed no lofty airs nor did he allow one word of reproach to fall from his lips. On the contrary he praised the war-chiefs and harangued the men as follows :—" Fellow countrymen and companions in arms, I am not more surprised at your valour and prowess than at your chivalry in inviting me to share with you the honours of the field. For what can I do singly without your aid ? I know your love and esteem for me and that you only wish for me the honour and fruits of the victory ; I am come therefore to grant you your hearts' desire and lead you on to victory. Be assured also that I. reciprocate your feelings of love towards me, for since your absence from home I have entered every compound now and again to ask after the welfare of your families and I am this day able to assure you that they are in good health. I have gone the round of all the farms and when I saw any over- grown with weeds and learnt that the owner was at the seat of war, I ordered the farm to be immediately cleaned. I am now able to assure you also that your farms are in good order and your families in good health. Be of good cheer my brave men and by this time to-morrow let victory crown our efforts." The soldiers gave long and loud shouts of "Muso, Muso, Muso." They made the heavens reverberate with their shouts and were heard at a very great distance. When the Egbas heard that Lakanle had reached the camp they extemporized a ditty including his name :— " Nigbati a ba pade t'awa ti Lakanle Igi t'o ba se oju re a wl o ! " (When we do meet, ourselves and Lakanle The trees that witness the sight shall tell the tale.) And so it was. It must here be admitted that since the Egbas have been driven to Abeokuta and have had almost constantly to engage in wars both offensive and defensive against the Oygs in one direction, Ijebus in another, and the Egbaluwe provinces, they have developed a wonderful aptitude for fighting, and capable generals have been thrown up amongst them. A most sanguinary battle was fought the next day, and so great was the courage which the presence of their commander-in-chief infused into the Ibadan soldiers, and with such skill were they led that the tide of victory turned in their favour that day. The Egbas were utterly defeated but their skilful commanders encouraged them to keep up the fire until sunset so as to be able to retreat in good order. Moreover they also tried to prevent a panic among their soldiers by not allowing the bodies of the wounded and the slain to be taken to the camp or to lie scattered about in the battlefield, and so they made a pile of the corpses so as to have the field cleared up. But in spite of it all, the Egbas could not hold on till the evening ; they were completely routed and Lakanl^'s victory was decisive. In the pursuit, Lakanl^'s attention was drawn to the pile of corpses, and for the first time his lion-like heart was m.elted by the dreadful carnage, and the following exclamation escaped from his lips "Are these the bodies of mortals once born of women?" " Of course they are " retorted a private soldier " and whose work it was but yours? Was there any such butchery seen before you came into the camp ? " The great general turned away quietly without uttering a word more. Thus Iperu was saved to the great disappointment of the Egbas and this they afterwards expressed in their street songs :— Ki a ko Iperu ki a ko Ode Ni Barapa ru imu re de (Iperu and Ode we had all but taken, When officious Barapas came poking their noses.) § 7. The Fall of Ota The Egbas at this time were equally as restless as the Ibadans waging a series of wars with the surrounding tribes, A serious complication arose between them and the Otas about this time which resulted in the latter place being besieged by them. Ota is the name given to a small town and clan of the Awori tribes situated about 24 miles north of Lagos. They are usually reckoned amonst the Egbaluwes. Prince Kosoko of Lagos was an ally of the Otas and it was he who asked the help of the Ibadans in defence of Ota. A force was sent from Ibadan under the command of Oliiygle the Osi. He made Ipara his headquarters and sent two war-chiefs Elepo his own lieutenant and Inakoju the Seriki with some minor war-chiefs to the scene of conflict ; these encamped at Agerige, Lagosward, from which place they marched to Ota when there was to be a fight. The Egbas fought bravely but the besieged defended their town most heroically assisted by their ally. The Egbas in order to harass the allies began kidnapping the Ibadan caravans, who were supplying them with provisions from home, as there was none to 256 THE HISTORY OF THE YORUBAS be got locally, so that the station at Ipara coiild not supply that at Ageiige. Lakanle hearing this at home left the town and stationed himself at Ikija, from which place he sent escorts with the weekly caravans to Ipara ; by this means Agerige was also relieved and communication established with Ibadan. The Otas are known to be an obstinate people, and in the defence of their homes every man amongst them was a hero ! The Egbas had nearly given up the campaign in despair ; a good many of the war-chiefs had returned home and others became rather listless, but for the shame of being baulked by such a small clan which kept them in the field, the whole undertaking would have collapsed. But the situation was improved by the diplomacy of one of the Egba chiefs ; he advised that unbounded licence be granted to the soldier}' in the field to gratify their passions in any manner they liked with impunity, himself setting the example : the amount of bravery displayed under fire, was to be the measure of indulgence in the camp. The device proved successful, the camp was refilled with characters of all sorts, and the campaign was prosecuted with renewed vigour. The small town was hemmed in on all sides and famine effected what the sword failed to accomplish. When their Ibadan allies saw that the Otas were not likely to hold out much longer, and that it was with difficulty they could obtain supplies from home, they left Agerige secretlj' and hastened homewards. Ota was at length taken by the Egbas and they wreaked their vengeance on the inhabitants so mercilessly, especially on the men for their obstinate resistance, that the clan was nearly extinguished altogether. From that time to this Ota has been subjected to the Egbas. The Ibadan contingent under Elepo and Inakoju met Oluyole at Ipara. Whilst here, a most pernicious plot was hatched with consequences so far-reaching and so disastrous resulting in repeated civil fights at home, until nearly the whole of the important war- chiefs perished one after another. Oluyole aspiring to the position of commander-in-chief planned a scheme by which Lakanlfe and Bankole his lieutenant should be wiped out, but the plot was discovered and it aroused great indignation at Ibadan. There was a determination that he should not be allowed to re-enter the town and steps were taken to prevent it. All the other chiefs returned one by one. It was due to his friend Elepo alone that Oluyole re-entered Ibadan. He kept him informed of all that was taking place at home. Oluyole remained out but kept advancing by small stages, with the connivance of Elepo, till one night he entered by the town gate from another direction. Once at home E16po prevailed on all the senior Chiefs to forbear with him and pardon him. Then Oluyole's men began firing a feu de joie but with guns charged with bullets, directing them towards Lakanle's house, and Lakanle's men returning the compHment did the same towards Oluyole's, the houses of the principal war-chiefs ranging round the central market. This continued for several days, the chiefs of both sides taking no part, but leaving the skirmishing to their boys. The tension of affairs affected the whole town, all business was at a standstill, till Labosinde the Baba-Isale came forward with some elderly chiefs and put a stop to these proceedings. This pacification however lasted but a short time, for soon afterwards there arose a complication between Oluwaiye, one of Lakanle's lieutenants and one of Oluyole's men. This developed into something approaching a civil fight, the town was soon in an uproar. Then Bankole unarmed approached Oluyole's men, and with soothing words was urging them to desist, and not to disturb the recently made peace, when one of Oluyole's men levelled his gun at him for interfering and shot him down dead ! This was a signal for a civil fight in the heat of which Oluwaiye fell. Thus Lakanle was deprived of both his lieutenants, and Oluyole's party gained the upper hand ; Lakanle had to take refuge with his old friend Agbeni at his quarters. Oluyole now obtained the object of his ambition, and would not listen to any adjustment of affairs except the death or expulsion of Lakanle. The brave man hearing this put an end to his own life by ripping his bowels open with a jack-knife, and passing the entrails around his own neck. In a few minutes he expired in the arms of one of his men. Thus Oluyole became supreme at Ibadan.