Elder Abel O Ezeanya

British Punitive Expedition in Bini Kingdom Elder Abel O Ezeanya

This book showcases the evolution of the dynasty of the Oba in Bini Kingdom. It presents the primordial facts that led to the 1897 punitive expedition of the British forces in Benin. It traces the original leadership form of the empire from when the Kingdom was known as Igodomigodo and ruled by the Ogisos, to when it traversed to the current empire known as the Kingdom of Benin under the dynasty of the Obas. Igodomigodo was administered by rulers known as the Ogisos. The first Ogiso was Igodo. There were about thirty-one Ogisos that sat on the throne of Igodomigodo before the first Oba was nominated. The massacre of the British expeditioners was during the reign of Oba Ovonramwen. This led to the invasion of the Benin Kingdom and the consequent punitive action against the empire. Several indigenes were massacred. Properties and farm lands were willfully torched. This was a carefully calculated genocide. Some details in this book is presented in a rather comical form to make it easily comprehensible. The series of dialogue between the key players gave the events an interesting coloration.