Continued expansion of the Lagos and Oil …
Years: 1888 - 1899
Continued expansion of the Lagos and Oil Rivers Protectorate is accomplished largely by diplomatic means, although military force is employed to bring the kingdoms of Ijebu, Oyo, and Benin into compliance with dictated treaty obligations.
The conquest of Benin in 1897 completes the British occupation of southwestern Nigeria.
The incident that sparks the expedition is the massacre of a British consul and his party, who had been on their way—despite being told not to come, the king being occupied in a religious ceremony—to investigate reports of ritual human sacrifice in Benin City.
In reprisal, a marine detachment promptly storms the city and destroys the oba's palace, engaging in widespread looting of what will become known as the Benin Bronzes, consisting of brass plaques, elaborately carved wooden ceremonial masks, and ivory sculptures, including two matching lions ultimately given to Queen Victoria.
The reigning oba is sent into exile, and Benin is administered indirectly under the protectorate through a council of chiefs.
Locations
People
Groups
- Igbo people
- Hausa Kingdoms, the
- Hausa people
- Yoruba people
- Ijaw people
- Kano (Hausa city state)
- Katsina (Hausa city state)
- Gobir (Hausa city state)
- Christians, Roman Catholic
- Benin Empire
- Ibibio people
- Bonny, Ijo city-state of
- Protestantism
- Anglicans (Episcopal Church of England)
- Oyo Empire
- Calabar, Efik state of
- Khasso, Fulani Jihad State
- Aro Confederacy
- Britain (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland)
- Fulani Empire
- Nupe, Emirate of the
- Sokoto, Kingdom of
- Gwandu Emirate
- Zaria, Emirate of
- Oyo, Yoruba Kingdom of
- France (French republic); the Third Republic
- German Empire (“Second Reich”)
- Lagos and Oil Rivers Protectorate
Topics
Commodoties
Subjects
Regions
Subregions
Years: 1888 - 1899
Locations
People
Groups
- Igbo people
- Hausa Kingdoms, the
- Hausa people
- Yoruba people
- Ijaw people
- Kano (Hausa city state)
- Katsina (Hausa city state)
- Gobir (Hausa city state)
- Christians, Roman Catholic
- Benin Empire
- Ibibio people
- Bonny, Ijo city-state of
- Protestantism
- Anglicans (Episcopal Church of England)
- Oyo Empire
- Calabar, Efik state of
- Khasso, Fulani Jihad State
- Aro Confederacy
- Britain (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland)
- Fulani Empire
- Nupe, Emirate of the
- Sokoto, Kingdom of
- Gwandu Emirate
- Zaria, Emirate of
- Oyo, Yoruba Kingdom of
- France (French republic); the Third Republic
- German Empire (“Second Reich”)
- Lagos and Oil Rivers Protectorate
Topics
Commodoties
Subjects
Regions
Subregions