The Oshogbo War: How Ilorin was finally checkmated
After a short pause following the Eleduwe war, the aggressive spirit of the Ilorins once more impelled them to the accomplishment of their aim, subversion of the entire Yoruba country, hence for the third time, they lay siege to Oshogbo. The command this time was entrusted to their brave general, Ali, the Hausa Balogun of Ilorin.
Oshogbo was closely besieged, and terrible battles were fought between the assailants and defenders. When the king of Oshogbo found the Ilorin too strong for him, he sent to Ibadan for help.
Ibadan, the defenders of the north and northeast responded, sending auxiliary forces led by one Obele alias Mobitan and Alade Abinupagun. However, their efforts proved insufficient, and even with a more experienced leader leading another contingent, the Ilorins continued to gain ground. Eventually, the besieged and their auxiliaries were confined to the thickets surrounding the town, which were reserved for defense purposes.
The Ibadan contingent sent an urgent report, signaling that they would soon be overpowered unless timely aid was provided. Basorun, unwilling to allow the Fulanis and Jamas of Ilorin to dominate the forest lands they had been driven into, was resolved to raise the siege at all costs.
It was with the Ibadans a matter of now or never and hence, the Balogun was instructed to endeavor to deal a decisive blow to the Ilorins once and for all. Failure would mean the Fulanis becoming masters of the whole Yoruba country.
Balogun Oderinlo marched out with the whole of the Ibadan army, save for Elepo, who had been rejected by the chiefs for his actions in the previous expedition. Elepo stayed at home, feeling too exalted to care for any of them.
When the Ibadan army arrived at Oshogbo and assessed the situation, they had doubts about their chances of success without their champion. They could not venture into the open field for fear of the Ilorin cavalry. After several days of hesitation, they finally resolved to attack under the cover of darkness.
The Oshogbo Army and the earlier auxiliaries were to maintain the centre of the battle, Chiefs Abitiko and Lajubu to command the right wing, Balogun Oderinlo with the rest of the Ibadan war chiefs to form the left wing of the Army.
About midnight, the Ilorin camp was attacked on all sides.
The watchword was elo ni owo odo? "how much is the fare of the ferry," and anyone unable to provide it was considered an enemy. The first camp attacked was that of the Elese, and as soon as they rushed in, they set it on fire. The Elese himself was shot dead as soon as he showed his face. A panic seized the Ilorin army, leading to their hasty retreat as they could offer no resistance. Many fell by the hands of their friends due to their hasty flight.
Several Ilorin war chiefs were captured in the defeat, including Jimba, the head slave of the Emir of Ilorin, one of the sons of Ali, the commander, Chief Lateju and Ajikobi, the Yoruba Balogun of Ilorin. While Jimba and Ali were released privately by the Ibadan war chiefs as a gesture of chivalry, others, being Yorubas, were considered traitors and sent to Ibadan for punishment.
Basorun Oluyole sentenced Lateju to death, ostensibly for not releasing and sending back his wife who fell into his hand during the Eleduwa war. Ajikobi, being a more distinguished personage, was sent to Alaafin in Oyo for capital punishment, and was executed by roasting him to death with gunpowder.
Despite the victory at Oshogbo, only a few horses were brought back home, as the people cared more for the horses' tails, which they used as amulets against bullets. This victory marked a turning point in Yoruba history, saving the country from total absorption by the Fulanis. The power of the Ilorins for independent aggressive warfare in Yoruba land was forever broken, and without losing sight of their ultimate objective, dipping Koran in the sea (Subjugation of the entire Yoruba land) resorted to alliances with warring Yoruba tribes in hopes of weakening the entire Yoruba nation for eventual conquest.
That the Alaafin did not seize the opportunity to gather all forces of the kingdom and strike a final blow at the enemy was a matter of surprise to many.
Documents from Samuel Johnson's history of the Yorubas
Posts
0 Comments