Princess Inikpi - A Fearless Victim of Death and War

Just like an Earthquake, the Earth trembled, but this time, it trembled in series; and as if a volcanic eruption coincidentally occurred with it, huge flashes of burning fire and thick black smokes repeatedly filled the air.

“Ojo mi” yelled one of the Igala commanders in their local dialect, meaning “my God”.

The Binis have used a weapon alien to warfare. One the Igala warriors have never seen, heard or imagined. They have used the English Cannons recently acquired from the Whiteman.

The Igala defences were instantly destroyed, and hundreds of battle ready warriors killed and wounded from the multiple blasts, with bodies and pieces of human flesh littered everywhere. Again, he yelled “Ojo mi”; expressing shock and total disbelief to what he had just witnessed.

Still disoriented, and coupled with their inability to comprehend what had just happened, they helplessly watched their dying and suffering warriors who were still down from the effect of the blast while the Bini warriors matched on, ready to unleash death on anything that has breath in the land. To avoid being captured, the commander and his few surviving warriors not affected by the blast fled, leaving their wounded.

A message was immediately sent to the King (The Attah of Igala Mela Kingdom) and not wanting to show fear or defeat he asked every Igala son and daughter who could wield a hoe or cutlass to join the war.

The Igala warriors regrouped and employed various tactics to penetrate the Benin warriors, but all failed. A thousand times they tried and a thousand times they failed. Their weapons were no match for the more superior and sophisticated ones used by the Bini warriors who came prepared.

The Bini warriors with their artilleries went from village to village destroying both farm lands, live stocks and poisoning their water sources with the blood and body of their people, while capturing young slaves which they used for supplies and other war logistics.

The King (The Attah of Igala Land) had now realized his wrong doings. His kingdom was turning into a grave yard but this time without grave stones. Vultures and other scavengers could be seen feasting on the dead. His people were dying; death was now their closest neighbours, as they were dying of diseases and starvation even before the Bini warriors got to their hideouts. The capital 'Idah' wasn’t left out as it was now under heavy fire and pressure, with some of the people crying and calling for peace.

The King thinks back. His failed invasion on the Great Benin Kingdom has brought this upon him and his people. They had wanted to invade the Benin Kingdom when it was experiencing war, a war between brothers. He regrets, but it was already too late. Now he was faced with a seemingly impossible task. To protect the capital, his already broken people and what was left of the kingdom.

Swallowing his pride and showing defeat, the King sent a message of truce by dispatching a white robe and a palm front which symbolizes peace but the Binis refused. They have lost some royal bloods during the invasion of their lands by the Igala Vikings and only a royal blood they would accept as sacrifice for a truce. The king sent his palace chiefs and again they declined. A royal blood they want, and it must be from the King’s immediate lineage. The bini’s matched on, and the King now confused, watched helplessly as everything he knew fell apart. His kingdom and his people were about to be wipe out of existence. This isn’t a war anymore, this is ethnic cleansing. Our race is being cleansed said the king’s daughter, Princess Inikpi.

Princess Inikpi was the King’s only daughter. She was an epitome of beauty. Her father’s pride. Known for her loving nature, she was nicked named “Ufedo” by her people, meaning “love”. She was the gift of love to the Igala people and the Kingdom.

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Statue of Princess Inikpi

Source

Knowing that her father could not come to terms with the Binis’ unholy demand, and to save what was left of the kingdom, she offered herself for the sacrifice. She was a fearless beauty and flawless in all ramifications of life. Her mother cried, begged the binis’ to take her instead but her pleas fell on deaf ears. Her father was broken and devastated with his eyes filled with blood and rage, he has brought this upon himself and his people. The people weren’t left behind in the wailing and crying as many of them had come forward to die in her place but the Binis’ refused. They were determined to teach the King a grave lesson. They were determined to put a permanent end to the continuous invasion of their lands by the Igala Vikings.

Inikpi, dressed in her full traditional regalia, and in the company of her crying palace guards, matched down to the alter where she was to be sacrificed by her own people as instructed by the Binis’.
Inikpi was beheaded and her head handed over to the Bini warriors who then turned back and left the kingdom.

As a tribute for her love and sacrifice, Inikpi was immortalized as a statue of her was built in Idah, the Traditional Headquarters of the Igala people.

SAY NO TO WAR

Since the beginning of time, war has being destroying our world.

This story sprinkled with fiction gives a seemingly true and painful account of what happened during the Igala/Bini war centuries ago. It gives a heart breaking account of how an innocent young girl, well loved by her people gave her life to save them from ethnic cleansing.

Today in many parts of Nigeria, ethnic cleansing is going on and the government is doing little or nothing about it. The Vikings are back, and this time they have weapons more sophisticated than that of the government.

This post is dedicated to Late Inikpi of Igala Land, and to the Benue people presently being cleansed in Nigeria for no apparent reason.