King Jaja of Opobo was born Mbanaso Okwaraozurumba in Umuduruoha, Amaigbo (present day Imo State) in the year 1821. He was sold into slavery and taken to Bonny Island (present day Rivers state) under circumstances which are far from clear.
He was renamed Jubo Jubogha by his first master, Chief Iganipughuma Allison of Bonny, and later resold to Chief Alali who was the head of the Opubo Manilla Pepple Royal House. It was here that the British who couldn’t pronounce his name called him “Jaja”.
Jaja worked for Chief Alali and ran businesses on the side until he was able to buy his freedom. He was soon recognized as one of the smartest businessmen in the city and became one of the greatest leaders of the head of Anna Pepple house.
Later on, a power struggle ensued in the houses at Bonny led by Pepple House’s High Chief Oko Jumbo which led to the breakaway of a fraction led by Jaja. He established a new settlement which he named Opobo in1869 where he became King Jaja of Opobo.
The Ibini Ukpabi popularly called the ‘Long Juju’ was an oracle of the Arochukwu kingdom in modern day Abia state. This oracle was used to settle disputes in the community and punish perpetrators of crimes.
The Long Juju shrine served as a supreme court for the people of the kingdom. There were no appeals, and no one, either through status or wealth could reverse its judgement.
Those on trial would enter the temple complex and wander through it, ready to face the judgment of God.
God). Those found innocent went back to their relatives.
Those found guilty were instructed to get undressed and leave their clothes at a place known as the ‘hill of rags’ before they disappeared into the tunnel around the hill, never to be seen again.
Iyoba Idia: The 1st Queen Mother of the Great Benin Kingdom.
At the end of the 15th century, the kingdom of Benin was plunged into a state of unrest when Oba Ozolua died. He left two powerful sons who were said to have been born on the same day which meant that there
was a dispute over who would succeed him.
One son, Esigie controlled Benin City, while the other son, Arhuaran, was based in the equally important city of Udo. Neither prince was prepared to yield to the other and soon after, a war ensued.
The war severely compromised the kingdom of Benin’s status as a regional power.
Exploiting this weakness, the neighboring Igala people sent warriors across the Benue River to seize control of Benin’s northern territories...
West African Yellow Fever Commission Yaba,Lagos: Image is showing the Tennis Court, Store House, Animal House, Laboratory and Administration Office.
In May 1903, an outbreak of yellow fever threatened the tranquility of Colonial Lagos; cases were reported up to the end of
the year, with a total number of 38 cases, of which 10 had a fatal termination.
During 1913, some 29 cases of yellow fever were notified in Lagos. The first person infected was a European, who had arrived two days before from Abeokuta, where, however, the presence of the disease
had not been previously recorded.
According to the Annual Report of 1914 of the Governor- General of Nigeria, all the cases of yellow fever reported during the year were Europeans, no attacks coming under observation among the native population.