BOOK 2: THE EZZA-BRITISH SALT WARS 1900-1912 CHAPTER ONE: HOW ROYAL NIGER COMPANY DECLARED WAR ON EZA WOMEN By Teofloss Okere, Omuagu Idembia 6.15N 7.98E Ezekuna Series - Book 2
1898. Lokoja. Royal Niger Company office. Minute Book RNC/1898/42 Page 14:
"Ugwulangwu salt lakes produce 200 tons yearly. Eza women monopoly threatens imported Cheshire salt. Price of English salt fell from 4 pounds to 1 pound per ton in Onitsha because of Eza salt. Recommend closing lakes."
That minute started 14-year war.
Who was Eza? Not Igbo. Not Ezza? Let me explain full origin.
Ezekuna had son Anigo. Anigo had son Eza. Eza had son Anyigor? No. Anyigor was daughter of Ezekuna - sister to Anigo. Confusing? British confused too File 7644 1911 wrote "Eza is sub-tribe of Igbo". Lie.
Truth: Ezekuna = Founder from Abakaliki migration 1200AD. He settled Idu valley Udo 6.15N 7.98E - that valley was empty, guarded by Ife village 6°13'N 7°59'E as gate.
Anigo = His son who found salt at Ugwulangwu 6°01'52"N 7°53'00"E after goat licked rock.
Eza = Grandson, warrior who created 6 Ovu keepers Okposi, Uburu, Idembia, Ikwo, Izzi, Ngbo to protect salt.
Anyigor = Daughter of Ezekuna, Salt Queen, owned 7 lakes with her 7 daughters. She was richer than her brother Anigo.
So Eza women = Daughters of Anyigor. They owned all salt. Men owned spears, women owned money.
1899 price war: - Royal Niger Company brought 500 tons Cheshire salt to Onitsha - wanted 4 pounds per bag - Anyigor's daughters brought 300 tons Mkpururu white salt to same Onitsha market - sold 1 pound per bag, purer, magnesium. - Igbo traders bought Eza salt, rejected English salt. - Company lost 2000 pounds in 6 months.
File AB/01/1899: "Ezza women have destroyed our salt market, they must be stopped"
1900 Declaration of War: 1. Close Ugwulangwu lakes by force AB/01/1901 2. Block Ife gate 6°13'N 7°59'E - stop caravans to Bonny 3. Burn Ife market where Eza women paid toll 4. Take sample box to London as proof of "good salt" they want to copy - Box Af1907,1111.14 5. HMS Thistle ADM 53/39021 Lot 10 carried box 4.45N 7.15E Bonny to London
1901 January 3 - First battle at Ife: 30 Company police vs 200 Eza women with salt baskets. Women blocked road for 3 days. File AB/01/1901 Page 22: "Ife women refused passage, said toll must be paid in salt not in pounds"
That was war. Not trade dispute. War on women.
Why hide in textbooks? If JSS students learn that Igbo women defeated Royal Niger Company in price war 1899, then "colonial masters brought trade" lie collapses.
Next Chapter: CHAPTER 2 - Burning of Ife Market - Eyewitness AB/01/1901
Signature: Teofloss Okere FOI-26088 Field is Ezza Udo 6.15N 7.98E Idu Valley
Comment "Eza Women Warriors" if you are daughter of Anyigor.
