The Anglo-Aro War (1901–1902) was a conflict between the Aro Confederacy in present-day Eastern Nigeria, and the British Empire. The war began after increasing tension between Aro leaders and the British after years of failed negotiations.
The Aro Confederacy, whose powers extended across Eastern Nigeria and beyond, was challenged in the last decades of the 19th century by increasing British colonial penetration of the hinterland. The Aro people and their allies resisted the British penetration due to a combination of factors, included economic, political and religious concerns.
Reasons for the war advanced by Sir Ralph Moor, the British High Commissioner of the Nigerian Coast Protectorate, included:
To put a stop to slave dealing and the slave trade generally with a view to the Slave Dealing Proclamation No. 5 of 1901 being enforced throughout the entire territories as from first of January next; to abolish the Juju hierarchy of the Aro tribe, which by superstition and fraud causes much injustice among the coast tribes generally and is opposed to the establishment of Government. The power of the priesthood is also employed in obtaining natives for sale as slaves and it is essential to finally break it; to open up the country of the entire Aro to civilization; to induce the natives to engage in legitimate trade; to introduce a currency in lieu of slaves, brass rods, and other forms of native currency and to facilitate trade transactions; to eventually establish a labour market as a substitute to the present system of slavery.[1][2]
According to American scholar Jeffrey Ian Ross, the Aro peoples usage of divinatory practices in shrines dedicated to the god Ibin Ukpabi was a critical element in their slavery practises, which was one of the factors that led to the outbreak of the Anglo-Aro War.[3]
Aro opposition
The Aros had long opposed British colonial penetration in the hinterland, with such opposition being motivated in part by economic concern. They also opposed the efforts of British missionaries to introduce Christianity, which threatened their religious influence through their oracle Ibini Ukpabi. The Aro led raids and invasions on communities were conducted in order to undermine British colonial penetration since the 1890s. While the British prepared for the invasion of Arochukwu in November 1901, the Aro launched their last major offensive before the Aro Expedition by British forces. Aro forces led by Okoro Toti sacked Obegu (a British ally) which resulted in 400 people dying. This attack quickened British preparation for their offensive.
Aro expedition
Sir Ralph Moor and the Royal Niger Company had planned the attack on the Aros and the Ibini Ukpabi oracle since September 1899 but due to lack of necessary manpower, it was delayed until November 1901. On November 28, Lt. Col. Arthur Forbes Montanaro led 87 officers, 1,550 soldiers and 2,100 carriers in four axes of advance to Arochukwu from Oguta, Akwete, Unwana and Itu on a counter-insurgency campaign. As expected, Aro forces resisted all axes strongly, although they lacked modern weapons. However, Arochukwu was captured on December 28 after four days of fierce battles in and around the city. As a result, the Ibini Ukpabi shrine was allegedly blown up. Battles between British and Aro forces continued throughout the region until spring 1902 when Aro forces were defeated in the last major battle at Bende. The Aro Expedition ended three weeks later.
Result of the war
Some of the Aro leaders, like Okoro Toti, were arrested, tried by tribunals, and hanged. The power hitherto held by the Aro Confederacy quickly evaporated and Eze Kanu Okoro (king of Arochukwu), went into hiding but was later arrested. Although Aro dominance crumbled in March 1902, many Aros took part in guerilla campaigns against the British in the region such as in Afikpo (1902–1903), Ezza (1905), and other areas where the Aro had a particularly significant presence. The defeat of the Aro did help the British to open up the interior, but serious opposition to British colonial penetration in Igboland clearly did not end with the Anglo-Aro War. In the years that followed, the British had to deal with many other conflicts and wars in various parts of Igboland such as the Nri Conflict (1905–1911), Ekumeku War (1883–1914), Igbo Women's War (1929), etc.
^Edward Harland Duckworth, ed., Nigeria magazine, issues 140–147 (Cultural Division of the Federal Ministry of Information, Nigeria, 1982), p. 31
^Adiele Eberechukwu Afigbo, The Abolition of the Slave Trade in Southeastern Nigeria, 1885–1950 (University of Rochester Press, 2006), p. 44
^Jeffrey Ian Ross (March 4, 2015). Religion and Violence: An Encyclopedia of Faith and Conflict from Antiquity to the Present. Routledge. p. 23. ISBN978-1317461098. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
anglo, 1901, 1902, conflict, between, confederacy, present, eastern, nigeria, british, empire, began, after, increasing, tension, between, leaders, british, after, years, failed, negotiations, part, scramble, africaa, photograph, arochukwu, burningdatenovember. The Anglo Aro War 1901 1902 was a conflict between the Aro Confederacy in present day Eastern Nigeria and the British Empire The war began after increasing tension between Aro leaders and the British after years of failed negotiations Anglo Aro WarPart of the Scramble for AfricaA photograph of Arochukwu burningDateNovember 1901 March 1902LocationWest AfricaResultBritish victoryBelligerents BritainAro ConfederacyCommanders and leadersArthur Montanaro Alexander Jackson Arthur Mackenzie Arthur Festing William HenekerKanu Okoro Okori TortiStrength1 6377 500 Casualties and losses 700 800 killed or woundedHeavy Contents 1 Cause of the war 2 Aro opposition 3 Aro expedition 4 Result of the war 5 Major battles 6 References 7 External linksCause of the war EditSee also African divination Aro The Aro Confederacy whose powers extended across Eastern Nigeria and beyond was challenged in the last decades of the 19th century by increasing British colonial penetration of the hinterland The Aro people and their allies resisted the British penetration due to a combination of factors included economic political and religious concerns Reasons for the war advanced by Sir Ralph Moor the British High Commissioner of the Nigerian Coast Protectorate included To put a stop to slave dealing and the slave trade generally with a view to the Slave Dealing Proclamation No 5 of 1901 being enforced throughout the entire territories as from first of January next to abolish the Juju hierarchy of the Aro tribe which by superstition and fraud causes much injustice among the coast tribes generally and is opposed to the establishment of Government The power of the priesthood is also employed in obtaining natives for sale as slaves and it is essential to finally break it to open up the country of the entire Aro to civilization to induce the natives to engage in legitimate trade to introduce a currency in lieu of slaves brass rods and other forms of native currency and to facilitate trade transactions to eventually establish a labour market as a substitute to the present system of slavery 1 2 According to American scholar Jeffrey Ian Ross the Aro peoples usage of divinatory practices in shrines dedicated to the god Ibin Ukpabi was a critical element in their slavery practises which was one of the factors that led to the outbreak of the Anglo Aro War 3 Aro opposition EditThe Aros had long opposed British colonial penetration in the hinterland with such opposition being motivated in part by economic concern They also opposed the efforts of British missionaries to introduce Christianity which threatened their religious influence through their oracle Ibini Ukpabi The Aro led raids and invasions on communities were conducted in order to undermine British colonial penetration since the 1890s While the British prepared for the invasion of Arochukwu in November 1901 the Aro launched their last major offensive before the Aro Expedition by British forces Aro forces led by Okoro Toti sacked Obegu a British ally which resulted in 400 people dying This attack quickened British preparation for their offensive Aro expedition EditSir Ralph Moor and the Royal Niger Company had planned the attack on the Aros and the Ibini Ukpabi oracle since September 1899 but due to lack of necessary manpower it was delayed until November 1901 On November 28 Lt Col Arthur Forbes Montanaro led 87 officers 1 550 soldiers and 2 100 carriers in four axes of advance to Arochukwu from Oguta Akwete Unwana and Itu on a counter insurgency campaign As expected Aro forces resisted all axes strongly although they lacked modern weapons However Arochukwu was captured on December 28 after four days of fierce battles in and around the city As a result the Ibini Ukpabi shrine was allegedly blown up Battles between British and Aro forces continued throughout the region until spring 1902 when Aro forces were defeated in the last major battle at Bende The Aro Expedition ended three weeks later Result of the war EditSome of the Aro leaders like Okoro Toti were arrested tried by tribunals and hanged The power hitherto held by the Aro Confederacy quickly evaporated and Eze Kanu Okoro king of Arochukwu went into hiding but was later arrested Although Aro dominance crumbled in March 1902 many Aros took part in guerilla campaigns against the British in the region such as in Afikpo 1902 1903 Ezza 1905 and other areas where the Aro had a particularly significant presence The defeat of the Aro did help the British to open up the interior but serious opposition to British colonial penetration in Igboland clearly did not end with the Anglo Aro War In the years that followed the British had to deal with many other conflicts and wars in various parts of Igboland such as the Nri Conflict 1905 1911 Ekumeku War 1883 1914 Igbo Women s War 1929 etc Major battles EditBattles in the Oguta Owerri area November 1901 Battles of Esu Itu December 1901 Battles of Arochukwu December 1901 Battle of Edimma January 1902 Battle of Ikotobo January 1902 Battle of Ikorodaka February 1902 Battle of Bende March 1902 References Edit Edward Harland Duckworth ed Nigeria magazine issues 140 147 Cultural Division of the Federal Ministry of Information Nigeria 1982 p 31 Adiele Eberechukwu Afigbo The Abolition of the Slave Trade in Southeastern Nigeria 1885 1950 University of Rochester Press 2006 p 44 Jeffrey Ian Ross March 4 2015 Religion and Violence An Encyclopedia of Faith and Conflict from Antiquity to the Present Routledge p 23 ISBN 978 1317461098 Retrieved January 12 2017 External links Edithttps web archive org web 20060216042659 http www aronetwork org https web archive org web 20120728080216 http www onwar com aced data alpha aro1901 htm https web archive org web 20120722180453 http www britishcolonialafrica com PDFS 1 A Falkland Islander DSO pdf https books google com books id WNwgU 0wQukC amp pg PA124 amp lpg PA124 amp dq v onepage amp q amp f false https books google com books id Hd Jp1t2n4sC amp pg PT32 amp lpg PT32 amp dq v onepage amp q amp f false https web archive org web 20110610131138 http www army forces gc ca DLCD DCSFT pubs bushwarfare BushWarFare pdf Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Anglo Aro War amp oldid 1118124913, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
