THE BOKOFI EXPEDITION

Since the Ijaye war (1860-62) the Ijebus and the Egbas had strictly for bidden ammunition to be sold to any of the interior tribes, notably Ibadan. On the restoration of peace in 1865 the trade between them consisted of foreign clothes, salt, rum and gin from the coast in exchange for produce, chiefly palm oil, kernels, cotton, etc., from the interior. In order to obtain ammunition, the late Basorun Ogunmola opened the Oke Igbo road via Ife to Benin solely for that purpose.

The late King Adelu, however, had purchased a large quantity of gunpowder at Porto Novo which was sent half way to Bokofi but no further for fear of the Egbas kidnapping the whole. On hearing this, the Are was resolved to send the youngest Mogajis for it, secretly wishing they might encounter the Egbas or the Dahomians who might probably help him to get rid of one or other of them. Ilori the Osi, and Iyapo the Seriki were sent on this expedition under the elderly chief Olupoyi as Baba Isàle.

The name of Iyapo drew the whole of the young men of Ibadan to this expedition leaving only the Are, the Balogun and the Otun at home. Their simple instructions were:—“Molest no one, steer clear of Egba territory, go straight by Oke'ho, Igãna to Meko; but if any one molest or interfere with you, follow the party home, and we shall come and meet you outside their gates.”