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Migration · c. 1830–1870s

The Bassa find refuge in Igala land

The jihad drove whole peoples south across the Benue.

See it on the old map

Overview

The jihad drove whole peoples south across the Benue. The Bassa-Komo arrived about 1830. The Bassa-Nge, Nupe-speaking people from around Bida, fled Masaba’s raids in the early 1840s; by their own tradition they first settled at the foot of Mount Patti at Lokoja, then crossed the Benue. The Ebira of Mozum (Egbura) came about 1860. When the Nupe raids grew worse after 1853–54, refugees crowded onto the south bank, and Attah Amaga let them stay. In the 1870s Attah Okoliko Onuche ceded the northernmost parts of Dekina and Omala to the Bassa as towns of sanctuary. These are the lands of today’s Bassa LGA, with its headquarters at Oguma. Igala land was never conquered, so it became the asylum of the confluence. The colonial Bassa Native Authority (1902) was later joined to the Igala Native Authority, and separated again as Bassa LGA in 1976.[2],[5],[1],[3],[4]Medium confidence

Who took part

What happened

  1. 1854 · Idah

    Attah Amaga gives refuge

    As Nupe raids reach the Ife district, refugees flood the south bank of the Benue. They beg Attah Amaga to let them stay, and he agrees. Among them are the Ebira of Mozum, the Bassa-Nge and the Bassa-Komo.[5]Medium confidence

  2. 1870s · Oguma (approximate)

    Land given for sanctuary

    Attah Okoliko Onuche cedes the northernmost parts of Dekina and Omala to the Bassa fleeing the jihad, as towns of sanctuary.[2]Medium confidence

  3. 1902–1976 · Oguma (approximate)

    Bassa Native Authority

    The colonial government creates a Bassa Native Authority, later joins it to the Igala Native Authority, and in 1976 it becomes Bassa LGA.[1]Medium confidence

Kingdoms involved

Sources

Every claim carries a confidence level: high (well attested), medium (one source or approximate) or disputed (sources disagree).

  1. Joshua Adunga Denwi. (2024). A Brief History of Bassa Local Government, Kogi State
  2. (2018). Igala–Hausa/Fulani Relations (1818–2018): Past, Present and What Future?. Igala Project
  3. Bassa Nge Community of North America. Our History (the Bassa-Nge flight from Masaba’s raids of the early 1840s, Eku Anupe; Masaba camps where Lokoja now stands) (cited elsewhere, not yet checked directly)
  4. Wikipedia contributors. Lokoja
  5. A Brief History of the Igala Kingdom, Part 3. Nigeria Tribal Languages