AYA EKUMEKU: HOW IBUSA FOUGHT THE BRITISH ON BEHALF OF ISSELE-UKU KINGDOM
By 1883, the British had gained entry into Anioma riverine areas as they had assaulted and bombarded Aboh and Ndoni, followed by Onicha Ado (Onitsha), another Anioma community before the Royal Niger Company relocated to Asaba. By 1893, they had pushed further into Anioma hinterland and it became obvious that many Anioma communities would certainly clash with the British.
Within this period, tension had started to build in Issele-Uku as reported by Felix Nwanze Obi, supported by Ike Okwuobi. Internal strife had began to threaten the peace of the Kingdom. The general feeling of indigenes was that the King of Issele-Uku had taken side against his own subjects.
Felix Nwanze Obi hinted that by this period under discussion, the European missionaries had arrived Issele-Uku with their introduction of Christianity and the Obi of the community was more than eager to accept them.
"The King without the approval of his councillors and Issele Uku chiefs yielded to the solicitation of the Roman Catholic missionaries and agreed to allow missionary work in Issele Uku".
As soon as the Obi had given his consent, the Chiefs of Issele Uku challenged his authority and the stage was set for the internal strife that followed.
These chiefs traveled all the way to Ibusa to seek the interventionist assistance of Ibusa mercenaries, the settlement's old rivals. But naturally, the British was also prepared to defend the Obi and Issele Uku as a whole against Ibusa.
In the Six-week war that broke out between the British and Ibusa, the Royal Niger Company sent 250 soldiers to attack Ibusa and to disperse Issele Uku "rebels".
On the first phase of the war, Ibusa retreated after the initial surprising attack causing the British to mistake it as a surrender. However, they regrouped and battled the British soldiers in what turned out to be a deadlier second phase of the war.
In this second phase of the war, both belligerents sustained casualties on their sides. But the British had to order more soldiers from Lokoja and Asaba to prosecute the war coupled with their war experience and sophisticated weapons possessed by them. As it turned out, they gained upper hand in the battle mainly because they resorted to the unconventional means of burning down Ibusa farms and razing half of the community. Hunger then forced Ibusa to surrender. With the surrender of Ibusa, there was a temporary relief in 1898.
Many of Ibusa chiefs taken as prisoners to Asaba and Calabar were forced to enter into treaties to protect the European missionaries. Once Ibusa chiefs had forcefully agreed to the terms, Zappa and Scherer hurried down to the settlement and work started in earnest as the missionaries acquired a portion of land in Isieke, Umuekea on lease where they established St Augustine's mission, built with hard labour.
It was from Ibusa that missionary works spread to Issele-Uku, Ogwashi-Uku, Illah, Okpanam, Ebu and Ezi.
According to Chris Adigwe Daniels, an Ibusa Chief arrested and detained in Asaba prison said "Oyibo gana ka anyi weli ohu weli nie ozu". This is the derivation or origin of the song the people of Asaba now sing during their Okanga procession.
By 1883, the British had gained entry into Anioma riverine areas as they had assaulted and bombarded Aboh and Ndoni, followed by Onicha Ado (Onitsha), another Anioma community before the Royal Niger Company relocated to Asaba. By 1893, they had pushed further into Anioma hinterland and it became obvious that many Anioma communities would certainly clash with the British.
Within this period, tension had started to build in Issele-Uku as reported by Felix Nwanze Obi, supported by Ike Okwuobi. Internal strife had began to threaten the peace of the Kingdom. The general feeling of indigenes was that the King of Issele-Uku had taken side against his own subjects.
Felix Nwanze Obi hinted that by this period under discussion, the European missionaries had arrived Issele-Uku with their introduction of Christianity and the Obi of the community was more than eager to accept them.
"The King without the approval of his councillors and Issele Uku chiefs yielded to the solicitation of the Roman Catholic missionaries and agreed to allow missionary work in Issele Uku".
As soon as the Obi had given his consent, the Chiefs of Issele Uku challenged his authority and the stage was set for the internal strife that followed.
These chiefs traveled all the way to Ibusa to seek the interventionist assistance of Ibusa mercenaries, the settlement's old rivals. But naturally, the British was also prepared to defend the Obi and Issele Uku as a whole against Ibusa.
In the Six-week war that broke out between the British and Ibusa, the Royal Niger Company sent 250 soldiers to attack Ibusa and to disperse Issele Uku "rebels".
On the first phase of the war, Ibusa retreated after the initial surprising attack causing the British to mistake it as a surrender. However, they regrouped and battled the British soldiers in what turned out to be a deadlier second phase of the war.
In this second phase of the war, both belligerents sustained casualties on their sides. But the British had to order more soldiers from Lokoja and Asaba to prosecute the war coupled with their war experience and sophisticated weapons possessed by them. As it turned out, they gained upper hand in the battle mainly because they resorted to the unconventional means of burning down Ibusa farms and razing half of the community. Hunger then forced Ibusa to surrender. With the surrender of Ibusa, there was a temporary relief in 1898.
Many of Ibusa chiefs taken as prisoners to Asaba and Calabar were forced to enter into treaties to protect the European missionaries. Once Ibusa chiefs had forcefully agreed to the terms, Zappa and Scherer hurried down to the settlement and work started in earnest as the missionaries acquired a portion of land in Isieke, Umuekea on lease where they established St Augustine's mission, built with hard labour.
It was from Ibusa that missionary works spread to Issele-Uku, Ogwashi-Uku, Illah, Okpanam, Ebu and Ezi.
According to Chris Adigwe Daniels, an Ibusa Chief arrested and detained in Asaba prison said "Oyibo gana ka anyi weli ohu weli nie ozu". This is the derivation or origin of the song the people of Asaba now sing during their Okanga procession.
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