THE DESTRUCTION OF EGBA TOWNS

We have seen above (Chap. VII) that after the fall of Owu, and the punishment inflicted upon some Egba towns for secretly befriending the beleagured city, the camp at Idi Ogũgun broke up, and the leading Ife and Ijebu generals returned home to their respective masters, but the rest of the allied armies with the Oyo refugees were invited by the Ijebus to Ipara, a town of Ijebu Remo. Making this place their headquarters, these restless bands of marauders found occupation for their arms in conquering and subjugating several towns in Ijebu Remo under the Awujale of Ijebu Ode, viz Odè, Iperu, Ogérè and Makun.

Pretext was soon found for waging war with the Egbas who were then living in small villages scattered all over the area between Ipara and Ibadan. Several expeditions were made from their base at Ipara, and Iporo, Eruwon, Obà, Itoko, Itesi, Imo, Ikereku, Itoku, etc., were taken.

The following are the names of the distinguished war-chiefs in this campaign:—Oyo chiefs—Oluyedun, Lakanle, Oluyole, Adelakùn, Opeagbe, Abitiko, Yãmati, Oluoyo, Koseikò, Abidogun, Apàsá, Osun, Laleitan, Bankole, Fadeyi Ogani-ija, Agbeni, etc.

All these chiefs joined the allied army as private soldiers, but the fortunes of war raised them to positions of great distinction. Notwithstanding this, they were looked down upon by the Ife and Ijebu leaders under whose auspices they joined the war against Owu, and had no voice in their councils.