From the British Archives
Extracted by Prof Johnson I Agbinya (November 2, 2021) and posted in the WhatsApp group- AGBA RENAISSANCE VANGUARD.
Ogbuloko from the Mouth of the British.
History not known properly continues to be a septic wound that bugs the conscience. Through their own mouths here is a reasonable sketch of how the British killed Ogbuloko who was leading a resistance against colonial taxes of no benefits to Igede and a rule by force. He dared to fight on when everyone else stopped.
British troops spent some time in Igede for at least 5 months fighting. There are more details on the conflict involving six villages. The reports are full of inconsistencies as to why they killed Ogbuloko. First, they blamed people around him and a lot later confirmed they actually killed him and wounded his three loyalists.
Nigeria, 1928
Serious disturbances in the Northern Provinces have been confined to the Idoma Division of Benue Province. A police patrol became necessary in February, and it was considered advisable to convert it into military patrol at the end of that month. All serious opposition was over by the middle of March but it was considered advisable to retain troops in the area until all the ringleaders had been captured or had surrendered.
Only six village areas were implicated in the disturbances and of these five had submitted and surrendered their ringleaders and their arms before the end of April. The sixth, Njelele, the home of Ogboloko, who was the prime instigator of the trouble, held out longer, and Ogboloko still remains at large though a fugitive with only two or three personal followers. All active opposition ceased in April, but troops have been continuously in Njelele since May.
In February the detachment at Nsukka, Onitsha province, was strengthened by ten men on account of the unrest in the Benue Province, as it was thought that unwelcome persons from that province might attempt to enter the Nsukka Division.
How did Ogbuloko die? Read the last part of this extract for yourself:
Station was paid for damage done and there were no casualties. A patrol in the Idoma Division of the Benue Province was brought to an end in the early part of the year, the author of these disturbances being turned upon and killed in an affray by members of his own tribe. There have been no other disturbances in the Northern provinces.
In January and February one European officer and twenty rank and file were in the Egedde District of Benue Province in support of the District officer. Difficulty had been experienced in obtaining payment of taxes and the presence of the police in the district had a very good effect.
In April an escort of two non-commissioned officers and sixteen constables, who were with the Assistant District Officer in the Boju district of Idoma Division, Benue Province, were successful in breaking up the gang of outlaws who were wanted for murder and had long been a source of terror to the surrounding countryside, the police were resisted and fired at with Dane guns and in self-defence were compelled to return the fire. One of the murderers was killed and three others wounded. There were no police casualties.
SOME COMMENTS FROM INDIVIDUALS IN THE PLATFORM.
This records could be correct even with some incorrect names probably borne out of dialectic pronunciations during records. Hence some spellings like Ogboloko and Njelele. Could it be Idele?
Oral records have it that Ogbiloko was invincible through ‘African Magic’. The condition for the efficacy of the charm was that he must mot eat “Uwe Obacha” (overnight food). His wife Igele, was offered a mirror to tell the secrets of Ogbiloko and eventually mixed fresh pounded yam with overnight one. When the white came, he could no longer disappear and he was said to have uttered some words akin to “is it you that did this to me” as he was taken away and eventually killed. The report that he was killed in cross fire must be for human right reasons. The invincibility of Ogbiloko could be acceptable against the background that with automatic rifles and sections of men they could not subdue him and his 3 loyalists.
We have great warriors even after Ogbiloko such as Ijale Ugbaka from Ameka Owo and Ogbile from Ainu. Our historians could harness writing on Igede Men of Valour. I am hoping too that our historians will dig our history from sources still untapped to help shape our past for everyone. The British reports obviously are written to hide the true details.
2. Indeed, there is no justice in history. History is mostly written by the victors and often omits the positive attributes of the defeated. Unfortunately, the defeated hardly tell their own stories.
3. I’m told that the Justices of the supreme court are not guided exclusively by the letters of the law, but the spirit as well. Which is why a ruling that is capable of threatening the cooperate existence of the Nigerian state, can be parried. Similarly, it will be irresponsible and a disservice to society, if the historian chooses to dwell on facts that are capable of causing more division than unity among a given people.
MYEEKEMEDIA POEM ON OGBULOKO DATED 2020
OGBULOKO.
Ogbuloko ọgẹwụ ọtụka, lẹẹkwa!
Ongịrị ọlẹ ka ụnyịrẹ la á ri ẹlẹlẹhẹ nyang ka.
Ogogo nya Ubeeke lang lala ụbwọ nya ọjị.
Ụka kahị be-ẹkọ wụrụng nya o-ri; ẹpwa ọnyẹnyẹ kpa kịla Ubeeke nyi jùhị lẹ- a myị ẹkọ hwọọ gba ọkịlẹtụ.
Ụka kahị be-ẹkọ wụrụng ọlajị nyaa ọkpahọ ọjụhị, a họ atịịmẹ ka.
Ogbuloko ọgẹwụ ọtụka, lẹẹkwa!
Alegu á bwu ang ọlịmẹ-lịmẹ hang ri ka chaahị.
Ọlẹlẹ a ri Ubeeke onyoorwu kaka, ahyị anina á lẹ kpawụlẹ họ ee.
Alegu á bwu ang ọlịmẹ-lịmẹ hang ri ka chaahị.
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