Abeokuta Province
The Iwe Irohin of 24th March [1860] mentioned that the Ijebu were selling muskets to Ibadans for six heads of cowries but to Egba for nine or ten heads. The Ibadans were selling slaves to the Ijebu at five bags each. Ijaye was nearly surrounded by the Ibadans. The Egba informed these latter that, if hostilities were continued against Ijaye, they would go to its help.
On 13th April, with the permission of Commander Hewett, Lieut. Lodder left Lagos for Abeokuta in the company of two native merchants, J. M. Turner and J. R. Thomas, with the purpose of attempting to avert the war with the Oyos. When they returned to Lagos on 2nd May, Lodder reported, according to Consul Brand, that “the Chiefs of Abeokuta were opposed to giving any aid in bringing about peace — no general meeting was convened, they refused Messengers — and it was hinted that they intended not to allow the deputation to proceed any further.
On 30th April the Alake, War Chiefs and “Ogbonis” of Abeokuta wrote to Consul Brand that one of the causes of the war was the alliance made between the Ibadans, Oyos and Dahomians against them and they asked that Wida should be destroyed. They also requested that officers should be sent to teach them the use of cannon for the defence of their town, and that the trade in arms between Epe and Ibadan should be stopped.
The Town Crier of Ake - Abbeokuta; or Sunrise within the Tropics by Sarah Tucker (1854)
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