She had just graduated from culinary school and felt she’d have more exposure and richer clients in Lagos. Her father advised that her “uncle”, a skilled caterer, would be the best person to train under. 

Little did she know that she would never return home again. She was sent to Lagos not to be trained—but to be the third wife to a husband she didn’t know. She also didn’t know the relationship between her father and this man. As far as she was concerned, she was living with a stranger.

We sat opposite each other in a canoe on the murky, polluted waters of Oko Agbon Waterfront Community, Makoko, where she told me about her experiences as a “wife in hostage.” Amanda even had to cook up an excuse to leave her home and speak with us today. 

Stock photo of Nigerian girl [UNICEF Nigeria/2017/Sokhin]

Wearing sadness on her face, Amanda shares, “From the moment I discovered that I was a wife and not a relative, I have been struggling to return home. The man that calls himself my husband has vowed that I cannot leave his house since he spent money on my head. And knowing who he is, he can scatter the whole of Lagos to find me.”

Aside from being an unchained prisoner in her ‘marital home’, Amanda complains about her husband’s treatment (of her) as a housemaid, the two senior wives and their cruelty, and the inability to access essential needs like food and water. 

“I am the one that cooks and cleans for everyone in the house, but I am not allowed to eat their food. My husband says that my father has collected money from him. Hence, he doesn’t have the money to feed me. Even the dress I wear today is from my neighbour, not mine.” 

Before Amanda can eat a meal now, she has to wash plates at local restaurants in exchange for money, ranging from N700-N800.

“I don’t know anyone here. I need someone that can give me enough money for transport to find my way out of here back home,” she cried.

“I escaped from his house after three days”

Unfortunately, Amanda isn’t the only victim of bride kidnapping in the community.

 A 25-year-old lady named Gael also suffered a similar fate in June 2023—but “escaped from his house after three days.” 

She currently resides in the Baale’s (community leader) stilt house on the water, where we had the chance to speak with Gael about her experience. 

Gael, who has only been educated up to the junior high school level, was helping her mother sell female clothes when the incident happened.

With a furious voice, she narrated, “That morning, she sent me out of the shop on an errand. Five men ambushed me on the way and shouted, “This is our wife!” They hijacked me from the road and took me to my “husband’s” house. I’ve never seen or heard of this man before that day.”

During her stay, she blatantly refused to eat, shower or have a change of clothes. For her, she’d “rather die” than be kept “captive in a man’s house” under the guise of marriage. When she ran away, she had N8,000 in her pocket, which she used to buy new clothes for sale.

“Even if I wanted to get married before, I see no reason to do that now. I can’t live in Baale’s house forever and risk this kidnapper finding me. I rather focus on getting enough money through my business and get out of this community.”

A Culture of Bride-kidnapping in Makoko, Lagos

Bride kidnapping, also known as marriage by abduction or marriage by capture, is a practice in which a man abducts a woman for marriage. It also falls under the category of forced marriage, as the bride is unwilling to get married to the man in question.

According to a 2020 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report, only a small proportion of cases of forced marriage come to the attention of police, with very few convictions. Women and girls affected by such crimes usually find it challenging to seek help and speak to authorities for fear of stigmatisation.

2023 will not be the first time the Oko Agbon community will experience bride kidnapping, as it is an ancient culture in the region.

In fact, there have been over twenty reported cases and many other unreported issues in the area over the last five years, according to Chief Hungbeji Daniel, the Baale of Oko Agbon Community.

Chief Hungbeji Daniel, the Baale of Oko Agbon Community. [Blossom Sabo/Zikoko Citizen]

The Baale says, “In 2011, the Lagos State government came to Oko Agbon and threatened to demolish the houses here if the bride kidnapping issue still continues. That’s the only reason why there aren’t as many cases as there once were before. And even then, we are not told of many cases.”

But despite this warning, the issue of bride kidnapping persists in the area. “Police and human rights organisations have come here countless times to threaten the people to stop this act, but it still continues. It’s so bad now that even when parents report these cases to the police, nothing is done. It’s almost as though we are on our own,” Baale shares.

One such parent is Pellagi Wenu, a 65-year-old single mother who has not set eyes on her daughter, Paula, since February 2023.

Pellagi Wenu, the mother of Paula, a lady who was bride kidnapped [Blossom Sabo/Zikoko Citizen]

According to Pellagi, Paula, a graduate of medicine, “just disappeared” on February 12. The man who abducted her later sent his parents to reassure her of her daughter’s safety, but she’s still not at peace. She wants to see her daughter again, as well as the man who has taken her.

With a sad demeanour, she says, “I hear my daughter on the phone every week, and she sounds like she’s doing okay, but this isn’t enough for me. I want to see my daughter again. And the man calling himself her husband should introduce himself to the family, not hide his face away.”

Is anything being done to stop this? 

When Zikoko Citizen went to Adekunle Police Station, Panti, to inquire about these cases, the Superintendent, Joseph Peter, demanded a “tip” of N10,000 to release records of the incident. We refused to oblige.

We also called Comfort Agboko, the Lagos Zonal Commander of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP), but she insisted that “our case was for the police, not them.”

What needs to be done to save the bride-napped girls?

Amanda and Gael, through Baale Hungbeji, have reported their cases to the police station in the Adekunle region, but they have yet to receive feedback.

And just like these two girls, several other reported issues of bride kidnapping in the Oko-Agbon community are yet to be resolved. These girls are calling to you for help. Who will save them?

Soldiers gesture while standing on guard during Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri on June 17, 2021. Photo by Audu Marte/AFP via Getty Images

Recommended: Bad Since 1999: The Nigerian Army Needs Reform From Wickedness

But how did they get here? What’s the Nigerian Army origin story? How have they evolved time?

To answer these questions, we need to take you all the way back to 1862.

The Pre-Colonial Era 

“Glover’s Hausas” And the Rise of Constabularies

The first mention of an armed force in Nigeria dates back to June 1, 1863. 

On this day, a unit of 80 former slaves was established by the then Administrator of the Lagos Colony, Lt. John Glover. This was during his trip back to Lagos from Jebba in Kwara State, where he had a shipwreck. Their crew became known as the Hausa Constabulary (a police force covering a particular area or city).

The Hausa Contingent, Under Major J.A. Burdon, Took Part in the Jubilee Procession [Elliott and Fry/Pinterest]

Sir John Hawley Glover (1829-1885) [Heritage. nf.ca]

A detachment of the Hausa constabulary was assigned for their first military operation in the Asante War of 1873-74 on the Gold Coast (Ghana). 

The Gold Coast Constabulary of 1873 [Great War Forum]

This was because the Gold Coast once administered the Lagos colony. The detachment was deployed at Elmina and would later form the Gold Coast Constabulary in 1879, giving rise to the Ghana Army and Police.

As for the remainder of the Hausa Constabulary, they became recognised as the Lagos Constabulary in 1879 due to a formal ordinance by a new administrator, Sir Alfred Moloney. 

Sir Alfred Moloney [Find A Grave]

But the Hausa and Lagos Constabularies would not be the only ones created.

There were other constabularies too

In 1886, following the 1885 proclamation of a British protectorate over the “Oil Rivers” of Eastern Nigeria, the Oil Rivers Irregulars (made up primarily of Igbos) came into existence. 

During the same year, the Royal Niger Company Constabulary was created as the private militia for the Royal Niger Company (RNC) and became the Northern Nigeria Regiment. The Royal Niger Constabulary set up its Headquarters at Lokoja.

Hausa Soldiers, members of the Royal Niger Constabulary in 1895 [Asiri/Getty Images]

In 1891, the Oil Rivers Irregulars were rechristened the Niger Coast Constabulary (NCC) as a result of a change of province name from “Oil Rivers Protectorate” to “Niger Coast Protectorate.” 

It was later regularised in 1893 under the command of British officers based at Calabar and formed the Southern Nigeria Regiment. It is here that we first know that the indigenes of the NCC force were made up of “one-third Yorubas and two-thirds Hausas”. The Yoruba component was a result of indigenes that were captured from previous wars in Yorubaland.

From 1893-1897, these constabularies would continue to exist separately until war made the British rethink their military strategies.

The Creation of the West African Frontier Force

France’s invasion of Ilo in the Borgu emirate in 1897 forced the British to make plans for military conflict, as they perceived the French invasion as a means of halting their trade relations. 

Hence, the first battalion of the West African Field Force was created by Colonel Lugard on August 26, 1897. It expanded from a core of draftees drawn initially from the Royal Niger Company Constabulary. Two additional battalions, the 2nd and 3rd, were created in 1898.

Despite their preparations, there was no military conflict. However, there was already a demand for consolidating all British constabulary forces in West Africa from the War Office in London. 

They argued that one central military force would lead to better coordination, an economy of force, and military efficiency in the scramble for West Africa. 

This resulted in the establishment of a committee under Lord Selborne that formally separated Police (irregular) from Military (regular) functions. 

It also consolidated all colonial forces—the Lagos Constabulary, the Gold Coast Constabulary, the Niger Coast Constabulary, the Royal Niger Company Constabulary, and the West African Field Force—into what became known as the West African Frontier Force under an Inspector General.

In January 1896, a “Lagos Police Force” was created, separated from the more military “Lagos (Hausa) Constabulary.” Subsequently, as part of the new Frontier Force arrangements, in 1901, the “Lagos (Hausa) Constabulary” formally became known as the Lagos Battalion, West African Frontier Force. 

The remnants of the Niger Coast Constabulary and the Royal Niger Company Constabulary companies were merged to form the Calabar Battalion, West African Frontier Force.

The Split of the Northern and Southern Nigeria Regiments

In late 1899, the Niger Coast Constabulary, the 3rd Battalion West Africa Field Force, and the Royal Niger Company Constabulary were merged to form what became known in early 1900 as the Southern Nigeria Regiment, West African Frontier Force.

In May 1900, the consolidation of the 1st and 2nd battalions of the West African Field Force and Royal Niger Constabulary companies based in Northern Nigeria, led to the formation of the Northern Nigeria Regiment, West African Frontier Force, under Lugard.

The Gold Coast Regiment, West African Frontier Force, was not formed until August 1901. The Gambia Company, The Sierra Leone Battalion, and the West African Frontier Force were not formed until November 30, 1901. Therefore, the Southern and Northern Nigeria Regiments were senior to the others in order of precedence.

Colonial Era 

The Origin of Present-Day Battalion Names

Due to the amalgamation of January 1914, the Southern Nigeria Regiment was merged with the Northern Nigeria Regiment to form one Nigeria Regiment, the West African Frontier Force. 

Remembering the soldiers of the West African Force [Norwich Art Gallery]

From this point on, the various colonial battalions (initially comprised of eight companies each) took on new designations with specific numbers, which they have retained to this day, with minor modifications:

• The 1st Battalion of 1914 was the former 1st Bn. Northern Nigeria Regiment. 
• The 2nd Battalion of 1914 was the former 2nd Bn. Northern Nigeria Regiment. 
• The 3rd Battalion of 1914 was the former 3rd Bn. Northern Nigeria Regiment. 
• The 4th Battalion of 1914 was the former 2nd Bn., Southern Nigeria Regiment (and thus the former Lagos Battalion, former Lagos Constabulary, former Hausa Constabulary, former Hausa Militia (or Guard) and original “Glover’s Hausas.”) 
• The 5th Battalion of 1914 was the former 1st Battalion, Southern Nigeria Regiment.

Various re-designations have occurred since then. However, the 4th Battalion retained its number as part of The Nigeria Regiment.

The Legacy of the 4th Battalion

During World War 1, when the number of battalions was expanded to nine, it was known as the 4th Regiment, West African Frontier Force. This was attached to the King’s Lancaster Regiment. 

In 1920, after the war, the number of battalions was reduced to four but then expanded to five, several years later. The West African Frontier Force became the Royal West African Frontier Force in 1928. 

Headdress of the Royal West African Frontier Force [Military Sun Helmets]

Prior to World War II, the unit was known as the 4 Bn, Nigeria Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force. During World War 2, it was known as the 4th Battalion Nigerian Rifles.

The last colours of the RWAFF used were reportedly presented in 1952 by Sir John Stuart Macpherson, GCMS, then the Governor General of Nigeria. The colours were retired in 1960, when Nigeria became independent, and remain preserved in the Battalion Officers’ Mess to this day.

The Nigeria Regiment became The Queen’s Own Nigeria Regiment, the Royal West African Frontier Force in 1956, the Royal Nigerian Army in 1960, and The Nigerian Army in 1963 (when Nigeria became a republic).

Independence Era 

The Effects of the Nigerian Civil War on the Army

The Nigerian army’s troops rapidly expanded with the start of the Nigerian Civil War (or Biafra War) in 1967. Troops of 8,000 in five infantry battalions and supporting units rose to around 120,000 in three divisions by the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970. 

Soldiers in the Nigerian Civil War [Peter Williams/Wikipedia]

This also led to an extreme shortage of commissioned officers for the right positions. Newly created lieutenant-colonels commanded brigades, and platoons and companies were commanded by sergeants and warrant officers. The effect of this was the 1967 Asaba Massacre, which led to the murder of 1,000 civilians of Igbo descent.

At the end of the war, the Nigerian Army was reorganised into four divisions, with each controlling territory running from North to South to deemphasise the former regional structure. Each division thus had access to the sea, thereby making triservice cooperation and logistical support easier. 

The Impact

Later, sectors for the divisions took its place in place of the 1973 deployment formula. 

The Nigerian Army, as of 2019, consists of 223,000 enlisted personnel. The Nigerian Army Council (NAC) oversees the army itself. 

It is organised into combat arms, which are infantry and armoured. The combat support arms are artillery, engineers, signals, and intelligence. The Combat support services, which comprise the Nigerian Army Medical Corps, supply and transport, ordinance, and finance. Others include the military police, physical training, chaplains, public relations, and the Nigerian Army Band Corps.

The 1 Division is allocated to the North West sector with its headquarters in Kaduna. The 2 Division has HQ at Ibadan South West Sector, the 3 Division has HQ at Jos North East Sector; and the 82 Division has HQ at Enugu South East Sector.

In July 2023, the Seychelles government banned Nigerian passport holders from applying for short-term or holiday visas.

This led to a series of frustrated comments on the ban, with many Nigerians lamenting the recent blacklisting of Nigerians in other countries.

But now that we’ve been visa-banned from these countries, what’s next? Well, according to the VisaGuide Passport Index, the Nigerian passport ranks 189th out of 215 countries in the world. This means that we can only travel visa-free to 26 countries worldwide.

These 26 countries are:

• Barbados
• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Cameroon
• Cabo Verde
• Chad
• Cook Islands
• Ivory Coast
• Dominica
• Fiji
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Haiti
• Liberia
• Mali
• Micronesia
• Montserrat
• Niger
• Niue
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Gambia
• Togo
• Vanuatu

Are there any additional requirements?

You still need to have a valid passport—typically for six months after your departure date—and you must buy travel health insurance in accordance with your destination country’s requirements for visa-free travel.

The ‘Nigeria-Friendly’ Countries

In countries like these, visa applications and immigration laws are more relaxed. You have the option of either applying for the visa online (as opposed to standing in long queues) or getting your visa on arrival.

Countries that grant E-visas 

Just think of the usual visa process, but online. You can submit your application online, including the visa payment.

After your application is approved, you will receive an email confirming your visa status and a document you must print and bring when crossing the border/airport. Your visa will be registered online, but some officers may ask you for a physical copy of the permit; that is why keeping the copy on your person while travelling is important.

Here are the 23 countries that grant e-visas for Nigerian passport holders:

• Burundi
• Cambodia
• Comoros
• Iran
• Lebanon
• Madagascar
• Maldives
• Mauritania
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Palau
• Rwanda
• Samoa
• Somalia
• Timor-Leste
• Tuvalu

The ‘Visa on Arrival’ Countries

Every country has specific visa policies that include who is allowed to apply for a visa on arrival. This visa is usually given for Tourism, business, family, and medical purposes.

How do you apply for a visa on arrival?

This visa is usually obtained at either the border or the airport. The steps include:

1. Bring the required documents with you. Each country has its own checklist of documents that you must present to apply for a visa. The documents include:

• A valid passport:  Your passport must be valid for at least one year and include copies of your previous visas (if any).
• A passport-size photograph: The number of photographs may change depending on the country.
• A completed and signed application form: You can check the website of that country’s embassy or immigration authorities to see if you need a printed copy of the application.
• A card or cash to pay the visa fee: If you are required to pay beforehand, you must have proof that you have finished your visa application fee payment. Also, check whether you need cash in the currency of the country you visit.
• A hotel reservation or a rental agreement This is used as accommodation proof.
• A round-trip ticket.
• A valid travel health insurance certificate.
• A bank statement.

2. Upon arrival, approach the designated area for the Visa on Arrival. Many countries will have a designated area to accept VOA applications, such as a counter or a booth; others will issue the visa directly at the checkpoint. You have to submit the required documents to the immigration or visa officer.
3. Finish the requested fee payment for your visa application. The visa fee amount can change depending on the country you plan to visit. You may also be required to pay in cash (in that country’s currency), so check beforehand to be prepared.
4. Wait until the border crossing issues your visa. This can take from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the country.

Here’s the list of countries that issue visas on arrival:

• Armenia
• Bangladesh
• Bolivia
• Cambodia
• Qatar
• Egypt
• Gabon
• Georgia
• India
• Iran
• Kenya
• Kuwait
• Laos
• Mongolia
• Myanmar
• Malaysia
• Nigeria
• Nepal
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Papua New Guinea
• Saudi Arabia
• Sri Lanka
• Taiwan
• Turkey
• Thailand
• Uganda
• Vietnam

But do you know who made it? Do you know about everyone involved? 

Benedict Odiase

Odiase is widely credited for being “the man behind” Nigeria’s national anthem. 

The anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” was originally written as a poem by five different writers, and it was Odiase who was tasked with putting the poem to music. He did this by creating a melody that would capture the patriotic and aspirational spirit of the poem. 

Before we go into what makes this anthem unique, especially with the words reflected, there are four things you should know about the Odiase, the composer.

He was born during the colonial era 

Odiase was born in Edo State during the British colonial era on August 25, 1934.

He was a police officer

Odiase served in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) from 1954 to 1992 and was also the Music Director of the Nigerian Police Band and the Mid-West State Police Band.

He directed Nigeria’s current national anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” in 1978

In 1978, Nigeria’s former national anthem, “Nigeria We Hail Thee”, was changed to “Arise, O Compatriots,” under the military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo. The former anthem was changed to promote national ownership, as the composer of the previous anthem was a British expatriate. 

The lyrics of the anthem were taken from five of the best entries in a national contest. 

The winners were P. O. Aderibigbe, John A. Ilechukwu, Dr. Sota Omoigui, Eme Etim Akpan, and B.A. Ogunnaike.

What Are the Details About These Men?

P. O. Aderibigbe was a Nigerian lawyer and poet. He was born in 1933 in Ibadan, Nigeria. He attended the University of Ibadan, where he studied law. After graduating, he worked as a lawyer in Lagos. He was also a member of the Nigerian National Anthem Committee, which was responsible for selecting the winning poem for the national anthem. Aderibigbe died in 2010.

John A. Ilechukwu was a Nigerian journalist and poet. He was born in 1937 in Nsukka, Nigeria. He attended the University of Ibadan, where he studied English. After graduating, he worked as a journalist for the Daily Times of Nigeria. He was also a member of the Nigerian National Anthem Committee. Ilechukwu died in 2012.

Dr. Sota Omoigui was a Nigerian physician and poet. He was born in 1936 in Benin City, Nigeria. He attended the University of Ibadan, where he studied medicine. After graduating, he worked as a physician in Lagos. He was also a member of the Nigerian National Anthem Committee. Omoigui died in 2017.

Eme Etim Akpan was a Nigerian lawyer and poet. He was born in 1938 in Calabar, Nigeria. He attended the University of Ibadan, where he studied law. After graduating, he worked as a lawyer in Lagos. He was also a member of the Nigerian National Anthem Committee. Akpan died in 2019.

B. A. Ogunnaike was a Nigerian engineer and poet. He was born in 1938 in Ibadan, Nigeria. He attended the University of Ibadan, where he studied engineering. After graduating, he worked as an engineer in Lagos. He was also a member of the Nigerian National Anthem Committee. Ogunnaike died in 2014.

Odiase, the composer, passed away in 2013, aged 78. 

Before his death, Odiase was a national award winner. In 2001, he received the Order of the Niger Award for his composition of the National Anthem. 

Odiase got the National Anthem copyrighted 

Odiase still earns royalties from the National Anthem since he copyrighted it through the Musical Copyrights Society of Nigeria (MCSN). 

It’s worth mentioning that his family previously filed a lawsuit against MTN Nigeria in October 2013, seeking N1.5 billion in damages for unauthorised use of the National Anthem as a ringback tone.

MTN, in response, attributed the mistake to their content providers and asserted that they should not be held responsible.

A Brief Rundown of What the National Anthem Means

Let’s start with the first four lines:

Military recruitment and patriotic values

Arise, O Compatriots, 

Nigeria’s call obey, 

To serve thy Fatherland, 

With love and strength and faith

In the third line, “to serve thy fatherland” refers to Nigerian military recruitment. It means that Nigerians should be ready to defend the country when necessary.

The three principles of love, strength, and faith are the virtues every patriotic Nigerian must have for the country. Love for the fatherland, strength to make it past economic hard times, and faith that Nigeria can overcome every obstacle it faces. 

The fight for independence and democracy 

The labour of our heroes past,

shall never be in vain

To serve with heart and might,

One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity

“The labour of our heroes past” refers to the wars that our forefathers and national heroes fought for the nation. 

These include the battles against British colonial masters and the fight for national independence and democracy with the likes of Sir Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, MKO Abiola, etc.

The National Prayer 

The second stanza of the National Anthem is often referred to as “The National Prayer”, as it contains prayers for the country. It reads:

Oh God of creation,

Direct our noble cause,

Guide thou our leaders right

Help our youth the truth to know,

In love and honesty to grow

And living just and true,

Great lofty heights attain,

To build a nation where peace and justice shall reign.

The first line of the anthem is suggestive of Nigeria’s religious sentiments. Christianity and Islam are the most dominant faiths in the country, with 50% of Nigeria’s population being Muslim and 40% being Christian. 

Both share a common denominator in their belief in a supreme being, i.e., God. 

The second, third, and fourth lines are a plea to God to help Nigeria with three things—direct the affairs of the nation, help our leaders make the right decisions, and give understanding to the youth. 

The fifth and sixth lines are a continuation of the prayer to God, the future of the country should mature with love and honesty, guided by truth.

The last line is a call for national peace from conflicts and wars and a nation where legal justice is met in cases of wrongdoing. 

The last episode of Citizen History, marks the beginning of our historical exploration of Nigerian women and their fight against British colonialism. We started with the Egba Women’s Tax Revolt. The mass protest lasted three years, with arrests and assaults by British police on Abeokuta market women. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was the leader until their demands were met in January 1949.

Egba women were indelible forces of anti-colonial resistance. UNESCO.

Read More Here: The Women’s War: Egba Women’s Tax Revolt

This week, we travel back to a similar event in Eastern Nigeria. The year is 1929.

This year, women in southeastern Nigeria rose up in protest against British colonial rule. The uprising, known as the Aba Women’s Riot, was sparked by introducing direct taxation on women.

Scholars have referred to this protest as West Africa’s first women’s revolt.

Aba Women of Nigeria in the first half of the 20th century. Archival photograph

What birthed the Aba Women’s Riot?

Two words come to mind—indirect rule. We’ve discussed indirect rule as the default mode of governance in colonial Nigeria, but for those who missed it, let’s do a quick recap of the key details:

The Recap

• Indirect rule is a system of administration in the colonies where local leaders—although front-facing with the people and ruling with native politics—dance to the British tune and follow all orders the administration gives.
• Britain adopted this system of governance because they didn’t have enough personnel for Nigeria’s enormous land mass.
• Applying this method in Eastern Nigeria was troublesome because the ethnic groups (Igbo, Ibibio, Efik, Ekoi, Ogoni, and others) did not believe in the existence of one ruler but rather lived in autonomous communities. To solve this problem, the British devised a solution in the form of “warrant chiefs”.
• The colonial administration made warrant chiefs tax collectors and used them to conscript youths as unwilling labourers for the colony and oversee judicial matters. 

To add more context, men and women had important roles in a typical Igbo home and worked collaboratively. Women could even participate in political movements if married to elite husbands. 

However, the British colonial officers couldn’t comprehend this practice. They considered male-dominated political organisations but ignored female ones. Combined with the extortion of the warrant chiefs, the women eventually became dissatisfied with the increased school fees and forced labour.

Now that we understand the full context, let’s visit a major event that made everything go from bad to worse for these women—the introduction of direct taxation.

The Native Revenue Amendment Ordinance of 1927

In April 1927, Lord Lugard commissioned a colonial resident, W.E. Hunt, to enforce the Native Revenue Ordinance in the five provinces of East Nigeria. 

Under this ordinance, taxes or tributes were paid to the “Chief” (warrant chief). The “Chief” thereafter was to pay a portion of the tax into the General Revenue and the remainder to the Native Treasury. This was the first official tax documented in the East and was used to prepare the people for direct taxation in 1928.

When direct taxation was first launched, only men were obligated to pay taxes. That is, until an assistant District Officer, Captain James Cook, entered office temporarily in September 1929.

Cook’s Tax Revision As A Catalyst of War

In September 1929, the serving district officer, Hill, went on leave. Cook was sent as his substitute until November. 

Upon taking over, he saw the ongoing direct tax roll count as insufficient because it didn’t include the number of wives, children, and livestock in the household, and he set about correcting this. 

With his revision, women now had to bear the brunt of paying taxes alongside men. Combined with their other obligations, was too much for them. The tax for women became effective on October 14, 1929.

This tax revision led to a fight between a widow and a census worker—the legendary moment that set the tone of the Aba Women’s War.

The Nwanyeruwa-Emeruwa Fight 

Madame Nwanyeruwa [BlackPast]

On the morning of November 18, 1929, a representative of the Warrant Chief of Oloko town, Mark Emeruwa, had one duty—to count or take a census of the people for taxation. However, he didn’t know that the women had already decided not to have themselves or their property counted! 

This was due to severe hyperinflation in the late 1920s, which affected women’s trade and production. But let’s get back to the story.

When Emeruwa reached the house of a widow, Nwanyeruwa, he asked her to “count her goats, sheep and people,” (which meant that she would be counted based on her people and livestock). In response, Nwanyeruwa sarcastically asked if “his widowed mother was counted.” This led to a serious fight between the duo, which made Emeruwa choke Nwanyeruwa by the throat.

In anger, Nwanyeruwa went to the market square to meet other Oloko women discussing the issue of taxation and told them about the incident. When they heard of it, they decided they would no longer accept the leadership of Warrant Chief Okugo. 

They used palm tree leaves to call nearly ten thousand women from other areas in the Bende District, Umuahia, and Ngwa to protest Okugo’s resignation and trial. 

How Aba Women “Sat on Men” In The Riot 

Under the leadership of Nwanyeruwa and the Oloko Trio (Ikonnia, Nwannedia, and Nwugo), the women protested Okugo’s resignation by “sitting on him.” 

This is a traditional practice where women chant war songs and dance around a man, making his life miserable until demands are met. The protests eventually spread to the factory town of Umuahia, which sparked fear among the colonial officers. 

The British District Officer jailed Okugo for two years to appease the women, ending the Oloko riot.

But that wasn’t the only protest 

Another protest began in the Owerri district of Aba. This was after another census taker, Warrant Chief Njoku Alaribe, knocked down a pregnant woman during a fight. It eventually led to a miscarriage of the pregnancy.

Like the Oloko women, the women of Owerri would not take the matter lying down. 

On December 9, 1929, the women protested in Njoku’s compound, during which two women were killed and many others wounded in an encounter with British police. This also led to the arrest and detention of their leader in Aba City.

On December 11, 1929, ten thousand women went to Aba City to protest against their leader’s arrest. On their way, a British medical officer was driving on the road when he knocked down two protesters, fatally wounding them. These made the women raid the nearby Barclays Bank and the prison to release their leader. They also destroyed the native court building, European factories, and other establishments. According to reports, soldiers and policemen killed about one hundred women in Aba. 

The Women’s War then spread to the Ikot Ekpene and Abak divisions in Calabar province. Government buildings were burned, and a factory was looted at Utu-Etim-Ekpo on December 14. These left eighteen women dead and nineteen wounded. Thirty-one dead and thirty-one wounded women reportedly died on December 16 at Ikot Abasi near Opobo, also in Calabar province.

The Aftereffect

Until the end of December 1929, when colonial troops restored order, ten native courts were destroyed, houses of native court personnel were attacked, and European factories at Imo River, Aba, Mbawsi, and Amata were looted. Women attacked prisons and released prisoners.

When order was restored, the colonial troops killed about fifty-five women. The last soldiers left Owerri on December 27, 1929, and the last patrol in Abak Division withdrew on January 9, 1930. By January 10, 1930, the revolt was regarded as successfully suppressed.

The Rise of Female Eastern Movements 

The position of women in society was greatly improved. Once only allowing the wives of elite husbands to participate in politics, the protests allowed women of lesser backgrounds to join native politics. Women were appointed to serve in native courts; some even became warrant chiefs.

The Aba Women’s Riot also inspired many other female movements in the 1930s and 1940s. This includes the Tax Protests of 1938, the Oil Mill Protests of the 1940s in Owerri and Calabar Provinces, and the Tax Revolt in Aba and Onitsha in 1956.

What was the document about?

Dated July 19, 2023, the document revealed the approval of N61.2 million. This was for a mass burial for 103 victims of the #EndSARS massacre of October 20, 2020. Onafowote Idowu, the agency’s Director-General, signed the letter and addressed it to the Ministry of Health.

An excerpt from the letter reads, “Following review of your request and based on the information provided therein, the agency has ‘No Objection’ to award the contract to MESSRS. TOS FUNERALS LIMITED at a total cost of N61,285,000 only for the mass burial for the 103, the year 2020 EndSARS victims.”

What was Lagos State’s response?

For the Lagos State Government, their reaction was to “set the record straight.” According to the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Olusegun Ogboye, the 103 bodies in question were not from the Lekki Toll Gate. 

They were retrieved from various parts of the state, such as Fagba, Ketu, Ikorodu, Orile, Ajegunle, Abule-Egba, Ikeja, Ojota, Ekoro, Ogba, Isolo, and Ajah. The government says that some were even retrieved from a jailbreak at Ikoyi Prison.

Ogboye also mentioned in the statement that the Lagos State chief pathologist was legally summoned to produce the full records of unclaimed bodies in the Lagos State Central Mortuary. This was immediately after the tragic incident of October 20, 2020.

He also confirmed that relatives of the lost or dead victims were advised to contact the Department of Pathology and Forensic Science at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). However, “nobody responded to claim any of the bodies.”

“After almost three years, the bodies remain unclaimed, adding to the congestion of the morgues. This spurred the need to decongest the morgues. This procedure follows very careful medical and legal guidelines if a relative may still turn up to claim a lost relative years after the incident,” he explained.

What were citizens’ reactions?

We can use two words to describe citizens’ reactions: outrage and dismay. This was because the state government had initially denied that there was “no casualty” recorded during the #EndSARs protest, particularly with the event that led to “Lekki Massacre”. Till today, the government has not been able to share a clear statement on what actually happened the night of October 20, 2020. 

With this, Nigerians are reacting to the news of the mass burial and the government’s statement. 

Here’s more on what’s stirring the reactions:

In November 2021, the Lagos State Government released a White Paper on the report by the EndSARS panel. This panel investigated the events of the Lekki Toll Gate incident of October 20, 2020.

According to this report, armed soldiers trying to scatter protesters away from the grounds killed nine people at the toll gate. 

But Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu dismissed the report as “assumptions and speculations.” 

Human rights organisations like Amnesty International and CNN International, which carried out independent investigations into the event, continue to stand by their reports that protesters were shot at. 

Their claim also carries weight, as many Nigerians watched Obianuju Udeh (aka DJ Switch) livestream and heard gunfire while protesters at the scene waved their flags in the air and sang the national anthem. 

In 2022, David Owumi decided to make his first trip to Istanbul, Turkey from Nigeria. He had no form of cash on him except his ATM card. When he landed at the airport, he needed cash in order to pay for taxi to his hotel. But unfortunately, none of the ATMs seemed to work for him.

“I tried and tried, but all the ATMs were rejecting my card! I was stuck at the airport for quite a while because I also didn’t have any friends in Istanbul to pick me up. Eventually, an ATM did work for me, but that was after I was stuck for God knows how long. I ended up leaving the airport tired around midnight.” he reminisced.

For every 9-5 employee, a vacation sounds like the next best thing after sliced bread. However, it is easy to forget to make proper financial plans in the midst of all the excitement, and probably go broke or get stranded in the process.

In today’s episode of Abroad Life, David and Damiliel, seasoned travelers, have tips to save you from premium embarrassment to help navigate finances while vacationing in a foreign country.

“Before you depart, make sure to CHANGE CURRENCIES”

This is David’s first tip, due to his experience shared earlier. As a traveller, it is important to always try to hold in cash, the currency of the country you are going to before you leave. 

“Try to make this include the expenses in your entire vacation budget if you can,” he advise.

“Make sure all your daily bills are sorted for the next month”

Damaliel advises that we should not only plan a budget for the trip but also try “to plan for the month ahead when you are back in Nigeria.”

According to him, “Saving in the current economy is quite hard, but it won’t be wise to blow your hard earned money on just the trip alone and come back home hungry. Make sure your daily bills at home are sorted out for at least the next month too.” 

“Get your basic amenities sorted out before you leave”

“This includes hotel accommodation, commuting bills within the city, and feeding,” David suggests. He recommends that you try to book a hotel ahead of time that can serve both breakfast and dinner.

“It’s slightly more expensive, but it’s great to get a hotel like this in case you run out of cash, so at least you’ll not be hungry. Most hotels don’t offer lunch, but some do. If you see any like these, you should book those as well,” he says.

In terms of commuting bills, he also suggests that you search online for dedicated taxi companies that can take you around. “At least, even if you run out of money, you can still take yourself to landmarks in the city.”

“In your budget, always make sure to add money for miscellaneous expenses”

Damaliel advises that one should always budget enough money for emergencies or unforeseen circumstances. And this was out of personal experience.

He says, “Sometime around 2020 or 2021, I travelled to Dubai and contacted COVID. I needed an extra $700 for a new hotel. If not, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government would have isolated everyone for safety purposes.”

“Always do the math of prices in your head”

David believes that if you are going on vacation, you should try to gather prior knowledge of the conversion rate of the country and how much things cost in general. Especially if you don’t speak their official language or lingua franca.

“If you are travelling to France, for example, and you don’t know how to speak French, it is very easy for you to get swindled of your vacation money. There are conmen everywhere, as well as ‘brick and mortar’ businesses,’  he explains, emphasising that you shouldn’t find it easy to let go of money. “Always do the math of prices in your head.”

“Get travel insurance”

Travel insurance is an important money tip for David, especially if you are travelling to a “visa-free country.”

“For countries that do not require visas, it is highly important to sort out your travel insurance. This is like an official extra budget for you aside from the one you’re carrying in case you fall sick or run into any trouble,” he advises.

While most names are given to children by parents at birth, some are created due to the individual’s choice to change their name. And with errors in some documentation, the need to change names might arise to help clarify name order. It can even correct alphabetical inconsistencies in the letters that make up some names. 

Even with religious indoctrination, adopting names that reflect our religious values requires some legality in validating identities and representation. 

For example, if you are a Christian and get baptised as Mary, you might want to adopt it as a legal name. If you are a new Muslim convert, you might want to adopt a name that fits your religious identity. And if you practise traditional or other spiritual practises, you might want to reflect these beliefs in your legal name. 

But how do you go about changing your name? What’s the process like? In this article, you’ll learn about all the requirements.

These are all popular reasons people change their names

• Marriage

• Child adoption

• Professional/career demands

• Change in nationality

• Change in religion

• Gender transition

• Individual choice 

Also Read: Why Nigerian Women Should Keep Their Family Names 

What makes you eligible for a name change?

If you need to change your name, it can’t be done on a whim. There are certain requirements:

Age 

Only 18-year-olds can change their name under the law, as that is considered the age of adulthood. Children and teenagers under 18 need a parent or trusted guardian to change their names.

Citizenship

Only Nigerian citizens can change their names in the country. Foreigners in Nigeria must first gain Nigerian citizenship before being eligible for a name change.

A compelling reason

One must have a legal and compelling reason for changing their name. If you apply for a name change because you committed a crime, your application will be rejected.

Also, name choices that are profane or tribalistic in nature are turned down as well.

Financial stability 

If you owe any financial institution money, bury this idea of a name change. Anyone who wishes to change their name would have to be clear in all financial institutions, not bankrupt, and not have any financial liabilities against them.

The process of changing your name

Now that you know the requirements, here are the procedures:

Swear an affidavit

The first step is to swear an Affidavit of Change of Name, often called a “Deed Pool”. This can be done by walking to a nearby High Court and going to the Registry department to complete the task.

Your affidavit should be written in your own words and state that you have changed your name. The affidavit should include the reason for your name change, as it will be used to document your old name.

Publicise your new name

After the affidavit is signed, it is a must that everyone (i.e., the public) know that you now bear a new name. This is done by publishing your new name in any legacy newspaper like The Nation, Guardian, or Punch. You should double-check that your important documents match your new name.

Get your name listed on The Gazette

After publication, one should apply to the Civil Registry’s Paperwork Department of Publication, requesting that your new name be printed in Nigeria’s official gazette. A fee of ₦‎5000 or more is usually charged for this. Print a copy of the page indicating your altered name once it appears in the Gazette.

Apply for new official documents that bear your new name 

When your new name has been published in the Official Nigerian Gazette, you must apply for new official documents that reflect your new name. A copy of the Official Gazette showing the name should be attached to your application.

What documents do I need?

• A signed court affidavit confirming the name change. It should not be older than one year.
• A newspaper clipping that reflects your announcement of your name change. This should also be less than a year from the date of the advertisement.
• You must submit the declaration/advertisement you typed (in the form above).
• Two passport-sized pictures of your most recent appearance.
• A demand draft for the publishing fees, as well as extra copies if needed.
• A letter of attestation from a credible source.
• An official announcement of the adjustment.
• A statutory declaration (Affidavit) is a document that shows your new name on official records. You can complete the process by waiting for the new name to be published in the Nigerian Gazette.
• A copy of the Official Gazette, which includes your name. This is attached to the new document application paperwork.
• The chief registrar should be addressed in your application letter.
• Personal information such as your date and place of birth, marital status, and address.

Where can I change my name?

You can simply visit the registry department of any High Court near you. To make the process faster, you can go to the National Civil Registration Office. It is located at Sokode Crescent and Michael Okpara Street in Zone 5, Wuse, Abuja. Applications for a name change usually range from 5-21 days.

How much does it cost?

The only expense of the process is the newspaper publication, which costs an estimated N5,000. There are no additional fees for the publication.

In Nigeria, changing names is not a one-day process, and there is no specified time period for completing all the required steps. You will need to be patient and determined. Also, before making this decision, carefully consider the other changes you will need to make, such as your international passport, national identification, financial or banking names, and certifications. 

Good luck!