Valariesblog

  PUNITIVE EXPEDITION Following the Benin Massacre in which only two British officials survived, Rear admiral Harry Rawson, commander of the Royal Navy Forces at the Cape of Goof Hope and West Coast of Africa Station was appointed by the admiralty to lead a force to invade the kingdom of Benin and capture the Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi on the 12th of January, 1897. The operation was called the "Benin Punitive Expedition". The Punitive Expedition started on the 9th of February,1897, the British military strength was about 1200 men. After the capture, the ceremonial buildings, monuments and houses of high ranking chiefs were looted and burned. Inside the palace, the Oba in panic embarked on mass human sacrifice in order to stave of full disaster, the palace was burnt although the British claimed it was a mistake. OBA OVONRAMWEN NOGBAISI Picture of Oba Ovonramwen The Oba (Ovonramwen) was eventually captured by the British Consul-general Ralph Moor. He was deposed and exiled...

  Background At the end of the 19th century, the Kingdom of Benin had managed to retain its independence and the Oba exercised a monopoly over trade which did not sit well with the British. The territory was coveted by an influential group of investors for its rich natural resources such as palm-oil, rubber and ivory. The kingdom was largely independent of British control, and pressure continued from figures such as Vice-Consul James Robert Phillips and Captain Gallwey (the British vice-Consul of Oil Rivers Protectorate) who were pushing for British annexation of the Benin Empire and the removal of the Oba. In March 1892, Henry Gallwey, the British Vice-Consul of Oil Rivers Protectorate (later Niger Coast Protectorate), visited Benin City hoping to annex Benin Kingdom and make it a British protectorate. Although the King of Benin, Omo n’Oba (Ovonramwen), was sceptical of the British motives he was willing to endorse what he believed was a friendship and trade agreement. The tre...

  A valiant and brave man who died resisting the invading British forces during the Benin-British war. Before he became a soldier, Asoro was a sword bearer to Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (1888-1897). He was a symbol of strenght, courage and patroitism, qualities that earned him the title of a general in the Benin army. He led warriors resisting the entry of British invaders in 1897 into Benin city. His statement "No other person dare pass this road except the oba" translated to the local Edo dialect as "SAKPONBA" is now the name of a well known road in Benin. To honour him, his statue was erected at the Oba Ovonramwen square that is at the beginning of Sakponba road. Which according to oral history, is the very spot he died. SOURCES Nigeria Stories