Anglo-Aro War
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Anglo-Aro war | |||||||
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| Combatants | |||||||
| Great Britain and allies | Aro confederacy | ||||||
| Commanders | |||||||
| L.T. Col. H.F. Montanaro | Aro rulers | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 87 officers, 1,550 soldiers and 2100 carriers | Thousands of Aro warriors and Allies | ||||||
| Casualties | |||||||
| 400 Obegu people, few soldier deaths, and injuries | |||||||
Contents |
[edit] Cause of the war
The Aro Confederacy, whose powers extended across Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon, was crumbling in the late 19th century due to the European colonists. The Aro people felt a need to take action against the colonists who threatened their culture and sovereignty.
For Great Britain, it was
"To abolish slave trade which is secretly carried on throughout the entire territories belonging to, and dominated by the Aros. To abolish the fetish of the Aros known as Longjuju, which they by superstition and fraud causes many evils among the tribes generally, and to all the outlying tribes of the entire protectorate, who continually appeal to it. Finally, to establish throughout the territories a labour market to take the place of slavery." (quote by Sir Ralph Moore, the high Commissioner of Nigerian Coast Protectorate.)
[edit] Aro Invasions
The Aros knew that British penetration would destroy their dominance. They also opposed their religion, Christianity, which some of the Aros were converting to. In the days of Sister Mary Slessor, she was unsuccessful in converting the whole population of the Arochukwu kingdom. Those who were converted were the poor, outcasts, and slaves. Aro rulers saw the new religion as a British method of peacefully capturing Aro territories. Aro raids and invasions on many communities were conducted in order to bully those who favored the British. But the Aro invasion of Obegu around November 1901 signalled for the direct invasion of Arochukwu. 400 people died and the government of Obegu was destroyed. Obegu was a town belonging to the rival Ngwa clan which had been at war with the Aros for many years and was siding with the British. After this attack, the British would retaliate.
[edit] The Aro Expedition
Sir Ralph Moore and the Royal Niger Company, had planned the attack on the Aros and Ibini-Ukpabi since September 1899. The Aro invasion of Obegu marked their signal for the Expedition which began in 1901. The British had several allies during the war: the Aro Christians, the Ibibio and Igbo clans, and slaves who wanted their freedom. Two months of battles in Arochukwu would occur.
A formal military operation was launched against Aro and the shrine of the Long Juju in November 1901. On November 28, Lt. Col. H. F. Montanaro led 87 officers, 1,550 soldiers and 2100 carriers in four axes of advance from Oguta, Akwete, Unwuna and Itu on a counter-insurgency campaign. The Long Juju shrine was blown up. The Aro expedition was carried out by the British to stop or subdue the Aro slave trading oligarchy and its cult of human sacrifice ending months later in January 1902.
[edit] The result of the war
Serious opposition to British rule in Nigeria, however, ended with the Aro expedition, though there were still pockets of resistance in different parts of the country which called for a number of patrols. It did not succeed in securing control of Igbo territory entirely. In the years that followed, repeated "military patrols" had to be sent out to various parts of Igboland.
The Aro Confederacy officially lost its dominance and the power it had had over their neighbours and rivals. After the war, many Aro communities throughout Igboland fell to the British as a result of the war. The war had a greater impact than just Aro power dying and Arochukwu being destroyed. It made European control of the Aro people and allies much easier. The rivals who were once ruled by Aros were now at war with them and found it easier to fight against Aro forces with support of the British. Though the majority of Aros were based in Nigeria, the war affected the Aro culture, populations, and treatment not only in Nigera but in other neighbouring European colonies.
In Arochukwu, the Aros suffered badly. The EzeAro and his Chiefs were arrested or hanged. The priceless artifacts were lost. Many Aros were killed while Ibibio and non-Aro Igbos slaves and servants were freed. Also Christians were free to worship and they also took a major role rebuilding the city which had been burned down. Aro pagans had to accept Christianity and British rule. But revolts led by the EzeAro's son still occurred until he was crowned King. For many years, the rebuilt town suffered a poor population and land disputes. Aro dominance fell apart and it would take many years for Aro culture to revive.
[edit] Major Battles
Aro raids on Anglo allies (1890s-1901) Aro invasion on Obegu (1901) Aro expedition (1901-1902)
