odua boy: The Kiriji War, an epic battle fought by the Yoruba for 16 years, is believed to be the world’s longest civil war by any ethnic group.FEMI MAKINDE,who visited the war sites in Igbajo and Imesi in Osun State, writes that the relics of the war, which ought to be tourists’ sites, are not getting the deserved attention
Imesi Ile is an ancient town in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State of Nigeria which is set on the plateau. The town, which shares boundary with Oke Imesi in Ekiti State, is famous for the bloodiest inter-tribal wars fought by the Yoruba. The war which lasted 16 years is known as Kiriji War.
The word Kiriji was derived from the vibratory sound of the cannons deployed by the Ekiti Parapo Confederate Army to prosecute the war against Ibadan warriors which started in 1870.
The armies from the two sides displayed sophisticated military hardware which led to large casualties from both sides.
The war, according to some historians, was the fiercest tribal war among the Yoruba ethnic group of South-West Nigeria and the Kiriji War which ended almost 127 years ago led to the signing of a peace treaty on September 23, 1886.
The Aare Latosa, commander of the Ibadan Army and Ajayi Ogboriefon, the dreadedOsi Aare of Ibadanas well asLabinjo of Imesi Ileand Prince Adeyela of Ila were killed at the Kiriji battlefield in Imesi Ile.
The Secretary-General of Kiriji Cultural Foundation, Mr. Kehinde Kolawole, told our correspondent that the cause of the war was the determination of the Ekiti and Ijesha people to free themselves from the oppressive rule of Ibadan warlord- Aare Latoosa who sent his agents to collect royalties.
He said one of the agents from Ibadan known as Ajele one day sexually molested the wife of Prince Fabunmi of Imesi. The prince became furious and beheaded theAjele. That decapitation, triggered the war which led to an unprecedented bloodletting in the history of the Yoruba people who were brothers.
The adage that where two elephants fight the grass suffers is apt to describe the Kiriji War site in Imesi Ile. The site is littered with stone- anvils which blacksmiths used to manufacture bullets, gun powder and other weapons.
The carved stone on which Ogedengbe, the Commander of the Ekiti Parapo, sat to command the war is still in Imesi-Ile where the war was fought. Apart from the sophisticated weapons used, charms and other unconventional methods including masquerades were freely used to prosecute the war.
Our correspondent who visited the sites observed that the sites were not given the kind of attention which should be accorded such historical places.
The relics of the war and the cenotaph erected for the signing of the peace treaty on September 23, 1886 are all tucked inside the bush with just weather-beaten sign posts almost the size of a palm, signalling the presence of such important monuments.
Veering off the main road which leads to Igbajo, which also has some of the objects of the war, the road leading to the Kiriji Peace Treaty site and the one leading to the battlefield can be best described as non-existent. The gullies on the narrow bush path leading to the sites make it difficult to access the place.
The war relics have been covered by the bush and a local resident who took our correspondent to place said one could have a better view of the site in the dry season.
One of the fascinating relics on the war site is the huge stone in form of a chair upon which Ogedengbe, the commander of Ekiti Parapo Army, sat and commanded his soldiers.
A cenotaph was erected at the peace treaty site to commemorate the landmark event. The cenotaph-one of the few efforts to remind people of the historical site is painted in white.
TwoPereguntrees were said to have been planted during the signing of the treaty; the trees are at the site as a remembrance of the peace accord.
The Yoruba Peace Treaty which ended the 16-year war was signed by 24 Obas and chiefs on September 23, 1886 in Imesi Ile and the treaty has 12 articles.
The proclamation of peace inscribed on one side of the cenotaph was countersigned by Henry Higgins and Oliver Smith who were special commissioners.

odua boy: It reads in part, “ Now, therefore, we, special commissioners appointed by His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos for the purpose of executing the said treaty in accordance with the provisions thereof, do hereby proclaim, in the name of the signatories of the said treaty, that peace has this day been established and shall henceforth continue forever between the signatories of the said treaty and between their respective peoples.”
The Owa Oye of Imesi Ile, Oba Enoch Ademola Akinyemi, who is the paramount ruler in the town, told our correspondent that the Osun State Government had taken over the management of the sites.
He explained that the sites were managed by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments until the state government took over.
The monarch lauded the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola for taking over the site, saying the state government made funds available for the celebration of the 126th anniversary of the peace treaty.
“I urge the government to expedite action on the development of the sites. Once this is done, the sites will attract tourists from all over the world to the state.
“Besides, the war sites should be developed to a world heritage centre for tourism like other world famous war camps,” the monarch said.
But Kolawole, said the state government had not done much since it took over the management.
He said the town and the war sites deserved more attention than they were getting due to the important role the town played long ago before the nation got independence from colonial masters.
Kolawole said, “It is our belief that if the World War II which lasted for just four years is still celebrated in Warsaw, Poland, the Kiriji War which is the longest war throughout the history of black race deserves no less.”

He said one of the agents from Ibadan known as Ajele one day sexually molested the wife of Prince Fabunmi of Imesi. The prince became furious and beheaded theAjele. That
decapitation, triggered the war which led to
an unprecedented bloodletting in the history
of the Yoruba people who were brothers.

Sucn:
So rapè in Yoruba land didn't start today.

odua boy: :The Kiriji War, an epic battle fought by the Yoruba for 16 years, is believed to be the world’s longest civil war by any ethnic group

odua boy: Mad man,was that the only thing deciphered in the whole article

Just know that when the ibos were still walking around naked and eating themselves,the yorubas were already fighting legendary wars with sophisticated weapons.

Sucn:
So rapè in Yoruba land didn't start today.

odua boy: I urge the government to expedite action on the development of the sites. Once this is done, the sites will attract tourists from all over the world to the state.
“Besides, the war sites should be developed to a world heritage centre for tourism like other world famous war camps,”