THE OPIN WAR

After the crushing defeat of the Ilorins at Osogbo and the Ibadan ascendancy, the Ilorins ventured no more into the Oyo provinces, except for the little help they endeavoured to give to the Ibadans during the Batedo war, by attempting to besiege Ogbomoso, which ended disastrously for them. They appeared now to have recovered somewhat from their military depression, at least sufficiently to essay an aggressive warfare into the Efon districts.

A man called Esu, a native of Iyé, a town between Ilemoso and Eluku who had been a slave at Ilorin was redeemed by one Laleye for 12 heads of cowries; the latter also redeemed one Oni for 25 heads of cowries, and gave her to him to wife. Esu, however, turned out to be a ne'er do weel of a roving disposition, unfit for any trade. He left Ilorin and settled first at Egbe then at Itagi and finally at Isan, leading a predatory life in those regions, kidnapping peaceful traders, sparing none, and was particularly hard on the Ilorin traders. In that way he became a person of some importance in those parts; hence the Ilorins were now resolved upon capturing him alive.