The Role of Ijemo in Egba Wars and its Attendant Consequences: 1840 – 1920

Olatunji John Omotoso

doi:10.56201/rjhcs.v11.no6.2025.pg40.47

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The Role of Ijemo in Egba Wars and its Attendant Consequences: 1840 – 1920

Olatunji John Omotoso

Abstract

Ijemo played a significant role in the Egba wars, particularly during the Egba-Dahomey (1843 – 1851) and the Ijemo massacre of 1914. Ijemo being part of the Egba kingdom, contributed to the war effort against Dahomey kingdom. The Egba people, including those from Ijemo fought to protect their territory and resist Dahomey’s expansionist policies. This paper therefore traces the historical significance of Ijemo as one of the founding townships of Abeokuta, settling in the area long before 1830. It also delves into the crucial role Ijemo people played in settling Sodeke and his team down in Abeokuta, providing them with land and support. In addition, the article examines how the Ijemo and the Egba successfully managed the threat posed by Lagos Governors vis-à-vis closing and opening the trade routes to Lagos at will leading to economic strangulation which consequently resulted in the attenuation of Egba independence by the British Colonial government.

Keywords

Adubi war; British government; Egba land; Ijemo massacre; Olorogun class.

References

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The Role of Ijemo in Egba Wars and its Attendant Consequences: 1840 – 1920

Abstract

Keywords

References

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