Yes, the Fulani army, particularly during the Fulani Jihad in the early 19th century, aimed to expand their influence and territory across various regions of Nigeria, including attempts to extend southward into Yoruba lands in the Southwest.
Key Points:
- Fulani Jihad: Led by figures like Usman dan Fodio, the jihad sought to establish Islamic governance and reform through military conquests, primarily in the northern regions of Nigeria.
- Expansion Efforts: After the initial conquests in the north, the Fulani forces moved into the Middle Belt and attempted to exert control over the Yoruba states, leading to conflicts with local kingdoms.
- Resistance: The Yoruba people, along with other ethnic groups, resisted these incursions, leading to significant battles. Notable leaders, such as Oba Afonja of the Oyo Empire, played crucial roles in organizing resistance against the Fulani forces.
- Cultural Impact: The Fulani incursions had lasting effects on the political and cultural landscape of Nigeria, influencing trade, religion, and inter-ethnic relations.
The conflicts during this period shaped the history of the region and contributed to the complex dynamics between different ethnic groups in Nigeria.
After Fulani army captured ILORIN with the help of Sokoto Caliphate warriors and mercenaries led by Balogun Alimi..They tried to capture the Heart of Yoruba land the Oyo Empire ..
This battle was the first Major war that happened between The Fulanis and Yorubas …Literally the battle of( Alaafin of Oyo Empire Vs Usman Dan Fodio descendants of Fulani empire and Sokoto Caliphate )
After the Fulanis systematically captured Ilorin via the treason of AFONJA,the field Marshal of the Oyo Empire,the Fulanis together with Malian and Hausa immigrants made Ilorin their territory. They had immense assistance from some Yoruba Ilorin Muslims which led to the sacking of the old Oyo Empire in 1835.
For Administrative reason,the fleeing Oyo citizens relocated the Oyo administrative centre from Oyo Ile to the present Oyo Ago. The Alaafin devolved the military power of Oyo army to the hands of Garrison commander like Bashorun Ogunmola,Kurumi,Timi and Balogun Shoun Ogunlola of Ogbomosho
The Fulanis had sworn to dip the sword of Jihad in to the Atlantic ocean and they were still not satisfied with their victory, they wished to extend their rules deep in to the heart of Yoruba land and annex the whole coastal cities of Yoruba land in to Sòkòtò caliphate .. Thus in 1840,they set to capture Osogbo,a Yoruba town.
The Fulanis,under the commander of Ali,the Hausa Balogun of Ilorin,laid siege on Osogbo.
The Fulanis got help from Sòkòtò caliphate and other Arab/Tuareg mercenaries from across the Sahel. The major war agenda of Sòkòtò caliphate was to destroy Oyo mornachy and civilization completely before destroying all other Yoruba Kingdom for total subjugation just as the way they destroyed the Hausa civilization
The Fulanis army could not pass through Ogbomosho axis and Oke Ogun axis because the Ogbomosho army led by the Shoun ogunlola and Kurumi Ajadi of Ijaye had blocked and sealed off that route making it impossible for them to launch any attack from the rear.
When the King of Osogbo Ata oja realized that the Ilorins were too strong for the Osogbo army,he summoned the Ibadans for help. Ibadans immediately sent some auxilliaries to Osogbo under the command of Balogun Obele alias Mobitan,and Alade Abipagun. As this force could not stop the Ilorins,another contingent was sent to Osogbo under a more experienced leader. But still the Ilorins won every battles and gained more ground.
The Fulanis controlled Osogbo for two years before the Oyo army led by Ibadans came to the battle field.
When the Ibadans realized that the Ilorins were becoming more threatening to Yoruba land,they sent a very large and stronger force under Balogun Oderinlo to crush the intruding force and Jammah of Ilorin.
When Oderinlo and his men arrived at the battle field,they realized that things had gone worse than they thought.
They could not show their faces in the open field for the fear of the Ilorin horses because Fulani are the most skilled tribe when handling horses at war ,and for about twenty days,after their arrival at Osogbo,they could not fight outside the town thickets. Oderinlo suggested that Elépo,a brave Ibadan warrior was badly needed at the war front.
Elépo had been rejected by the war chiefs of Ibadan for his actions at the late” Agbamaja “expedition.
As soon as the message from Oderinlo reached Ibadan,the Bashorun wished he could send Elépo to Osogbo but could not go against the wishes of other war chiefs. The Bashorun gave Elépo a cow to worship his God,Ori, and prayed for the victory of Ibadan at the war front.
At the war front,the Ibadan could not attack the Ilorins during the day because Osogbo was practically in a plain and Ilorin horses might have advantage of them with disastrous results.
They decided to attack at dust when the Ilorins would no longer be able to use their horses. About 2pm,the well prepared Ibadan army left the gate of Osogbo for the battle field. They were to keep a strict watch and arrest anyone suspected to be a spy.
About a mile from the Ilorin’s camp,they halted and arranged the order of the attack.
The Osogbo army and the earlier auxilliaries were to handle the centre of the battle field, chief Abitiko and Labuju were to command the right wing, Balogun Oderinlo and the rest of the Ibadan war chiefs were to form the left wing of the army. The Ilorins camp were then attacked at the midnight. The watchword was “Elo ni Owo Odo” (How much is the ferry fare?).
The reason this watchword was chosen was because the river Osun had to be crossed in entering Osogbo from the South,and anyone who could not tell this was likely to be an enemy.
Stampede engulfed the Ilorin camp as the Ibadan army set it on fire.
The Ilorins could not offer the slightest resistance; they were smoked with the gunpowders of the Ibadan guns, thousands of the Sòkòtò caliphate soldiers were slaughtered that day and thousands sold in slavery.
This attack was successful for the Ibadans. Some Ilorin war chiefs were captured in the attack. Prominent ones were:
1.. Jimba,the head slave of the Emir;
2… One of the sons of Ali,the commander in chief.
3…Chief Lateju
4…Ajikobi,the Yoruba Balogun of Ilorin.
The first two were released while the latter two being Yorubas by birth were regarded as traitors and were executed. This was a huge victory for the whole of Yoruba land..
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