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| Image of an Ancient Attah |
The reigning Attah Igala at this period was called Aji
Attah. He was a younger brother of Oba Esigie according to the traditions
recorded by Mr. P. A Talbot, Mr. Talbot recorded that during the reign of Oba
Esigie, the Igala are said to have been said to have been driven over to
eastern side of the river Niger. Oba Esigie is also stated to have defeated his
younger brother Aji Attah of Idah. It may be that the Idahs had been previously
conquered and that the brother who had been put in charge rose against Oba
Esigie.
During this war the Portuguese Christian Missionaries fought
on the side of Oba Esigie. It was these missionaries who recorded the war. The
Igala were defeated because the Portuguese Missionaries introduced gins and
firearms. After the war, the Attah Igala secured his independence from the Oba
of Benin, who now controlled the west bank of the Niger. Around this time the
town of Agenebode was founded to secure the northern part of the Benin kingdom.
The Igala – Jukun war 17th century AD Between the Igala
Benin war and the Igala Jukun war, there was a gap of more than one hundred and
fifty years. It should be remembered that when Queen Ebulejonu established the
Jukun dynasty at Idah, Igalas once again lost their independence and became a
vassal to the Jukun king, the Aku Uka. Igalas continued to pay tribute to the
Aku until the reign of Attah Ayegba Om’Idoko.
As soon as Ayegba OmaIdoko was installed as the Attah Igala,
he refused to pay these tributes. The continued defiance of the authority of
the Aku Uka of Wukari resulted in him sending a force to bring Attah Ayegba to
task. When the Jukun soldiers arrived at Idah, fear and terror gripped all Idah
people. A Muslim preacher advised Attah Ayegba to sacrifice to the land spirit
which he loved most to ensure the safety of his kingdom. But Attah Ayegba was
not ready to accept the advice. His daughter princess Inikpi got the
information and realizing the danger threatening her father’s kingdom ordered a
pit to be dug at Idah waterside. She descended into the pit with her nine
slaves and all were buried alive. Again the Moslem preacher scarified another
woman called Odoko so as to save Attah Ayegba and his kingdom. This woman was
also from the Attah’s family. Her grave is in Angwa Ayegba village Idah. A clan
named after her is called ‘Omodoko’. The Moslem preacher also prepared charm
that was cast into the river Inachalo. It miraculously produced a rise in the
number of fish in the river, which the Jukun ate. The result of the large
consumption of fish (by the Jukum) led to an outbreak of cholera in the Jukun
camp. Attah Ayegba and his soldiers fell upon them and inflicted a crushing
defeat.
Attah Ayegba pursued the Jukuns with his soldiers as far as
the river Ochekwu about thirty kilometers west of Otukpo town. Here a truce was
called and the boundaries between the Igala and Jukun kingdoms was settled.
With the settlement of boundaries the Igala kingdom once more regained its
independence.
Territorial expansion
Attah Ayegba vigorously pursued territorial expansion of his
kingdom. Successive Attahs that did the same thing included the following:
Akumabi, Akogu, Ocholi, Ameh, Ocheje and Aku Odiba. By the end of 18th century
AD. The Igala kingdom had developed into a powerful state.
At the height of its power, during the reign of Attah Aku
Odiba, the kingdom stretched northwards across the Niger to embrace the Lokoja,
Kotonkarfe and Kakanda people. It also stretched northeast to include the Idoma
country. The chiefs of Otukpo, Boju, and Adoka went to Idah to get beads of
office from the Attah. The kingdom also stretched eastwards covering the whole
of the old Nsukka division and to Adamagu a few kilometers north of Onitsha
town. The kingdom also went westward to Ajakuta covering the whole of the
Igbira country.
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