Jalumi War
| Jalumi War | |||||
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| Part of Ibadan War | |||||
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| Ilorins, Ekitis and Ijeshas | Ibadan | ||||
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The Jalumi War, also called the Battle of Ikirun, was a battle that took place on 1 November 1878 in the north east of present-day Osun State, Nigeria. It was part of the larger conflict named the Ibadan War. The forces of Ibadan victorious in detail a force of rebellious Yorubas including soldiers from Ilorin, Ekiti, Ila and Ijesha. Despite the victory, fighting continued in the years that followed until the Ilorins were finally defeated in 1897.
The Jalumi War took place in the hilly country of the northeast of Osun State in the area that includes Ikirun, Iba, Inisa, Okuku and Eko-Ende. It was one of the series of civil wars in Yorubaland between 1793 and 1893.
In June 1878 word came to Ibadan that the Ilorins had joined the Ekitis and Ilas in the alliance against them. The Ekitis and Ila, now joined by the Ijeshas, laid siege to Ikirun. The king of Ilorin sent his forces, led by Ajia, to join his allies around Ikurin. They suffered a setback at Otan, but were reinforced and joined the siege. When news reached Ibadan they were unable to send help until their army returned on 14 October 1878 from an expedition to Meko. The Balogun Ogboriefon was told to march to the aid of Ikirun with five days.
It was the peak of the rainy season, and many Ibadan soldiers drowned crossing the Oba and Osun rivers. The Balogun had to share command with the Osi Ilori, a jealous and incompetent man. On 30 October 1878 the Ikurins had been pressed back and fought within their town walls. The Balogun of Ibadan entered the town the next day with his relief force. The attacking forces at this time were in three groups. The Ilorins under Ajia were to the northeast, near the Ikirun farms. The Ilas under prince Adeyala and the Ekitis under Fanunmi were camped together nearby. The Ijeshas were to the east, led by Ayimoro and Ogunmodede, encamped in the small town of Iba.
On 1 November 1878 the three besieging forces advanced against Ikirun. The Balogun left the Osi Ilori and his followers with the Ikiruns to fight the Ilorins, Ekitis and Ilas, while he took his soldiers to fight the Ijeshas. The first group was defeated, their leader the Osi Ilori was taken alive, and the rest retreated to Ikirun. When the Balogun heard of the failure, he did not panic, but through clever maneuvers defeated and ruthlessly destroyed the Ijeshas. He then returned, defeated the Ilorins and drove them out of their camp, but not before they had killed the Osi. He then defeated the demoralized Ekitis and Ilas. The victory was complete.
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