Parliamentary Papers (1861) Extract from the " Iwe Irohin " Newspaper published at Abbeokuta

 

 Abbeokuta, March 24, 1860.

FOR a long time past the prospects of the country have not been so gloomy as at present. The fear of an invasion by the Dahomey army has passed away, but the warlike plans of the Ibaddans have now become developed and decided. Though oil has not been purchased at Ibaddan by the Ijebus for some time past, an active trade has been carried on in war material ; muskets have been sold there for six heads of cowries each ; whilst at Abbeokuta they were sold at the same time for nine and ten heads each. 

The cause of this cheapness of muskets at Ibaddan is explained thus, that the Ijebu traders have engaged to sell muskets at this rate, whilst the Ibaddans have on their part engaged to sell slaves at five bags each. We have been informed that the head War Chief of Ibaddan is averse to this war, but his voice against it is silenced by public clamour for it, aided, perhaps instigated, by the second Chief. It is not difficult to understand that persons who have just come in possession of muskets through their cheapness should earnestly desire an opportunity of using the coveted weapon.

In the arrangement to sell cheap muskets on condition that slaves should be sold at a low rate, there is evidently an attempt at reviving the Slave Trade ; the more so as it comes from the Ijebus, who have also endeavoured to put an entire stop to the palm oil trade in their country. It is to be hoped that additional means to watch the Ijebu ports and roads for shipping or transferring slaves from one part to another will not be wanting, to demonstrate how vain it is for them to labour for a revival of that evil traffic.

Our recent accounts are, that the Ibaddans are to be met at some places between : Awaye and Iberukodo, on the west, watching the roads, and catching whomsoever they can ; to the north-east is Oyo, the King of which instigated Ibaddan to the war ; between Oyo and Ibaddan, on the east, are dependencies of Ibaddan ; from Ibaddan westward, on the roads between Abbeokuta and Ijaye are parties of Ibaddans encamped at various points. By these means Ijaye is enclosed and cut off from all communication with their friends. A caravan came down by an unused road from Ijaye, but have not been able to return.

Abbeokuta as yet stands aloof, but not unconcerned, for they feel a sympathy at all times with Ijaye ; and they regard these hostilities against Ijaye as also aimed at them ; indeed, as a part of a great plan made between Dahomey, Oyo, Ibaddan and Ijebu to destroy Abbeokuta and the advancing civilization of the country. The active intercourse, the presents made, together with the known enmity of a part if not the whole of the above against them give them a strong reason for holding this suspicion. 

Besides which, an Egba town called Ilugun, has been invaded, the people driven out, and their farm produce consumed by Ibaddan, which is regarded as an hostile act. Ilugun is farther from Ijaye. than Ibaddan, and in no form connected with Ijaye. Messengers have been sent to Ibaddan from Abbeokuta, their object being to endeavour to reconcile the hostile parties ; at the same time messengers were sent to Abbeokuta to restore some persons kidnapped at Imala by Ibaddans ( four are restored out of sixteen kidnapped ).

A meeting of the Egba Chiefs was held at the Basorun house on the 15th instant, to give an answer to the Ibaddan messengers. The substance of the answer was this : that if the Chief of Ajaye had done anything against Ibaddan that Ibaddan ought to have followed in this case the course pursued by their former Chief, Oluyole, who sent to Sodeke and made him acquainted with the cause of their quarrel with a view to a peaceful settlement of it by mediation, but they, the Egbas, were not made acquainted with the reason of this quarrel. 

Furthermore, that the Ibaddans had not only encircled Ijaye, but had gone out of the way to destroy an Egba town. That they, the Egbas, still desired peace ; but at the same time wished to declare to the Ibaddan Chiefs, that if hostilities were continued against Ijaye they should go to their assistance and declare war against Ibaddan. We are officially informed, that if their messengers sent on the 11th instant do not return with a declaration on the part of the Ibaddan Chiefs that they are willing to entertain proposals of peace, they will immediately close the Ibaddan road, and declare war as soon as they can with Ibaddan. 

At present the road is all but closed ; all Egbas, or persons from the coast, are warned not to go on the road, as it is unsafe. The messengers lately sent up from Lagos to Ibaddan were stopped at Atadi, and not allowed to pass until they had obtained the special permission of the Alake."