HOME DEFENCES

The preceding section has given us an idea of how matters were for the Ibadans at Kiriji. Now, whilst all this was going on at the seat of war, the Ijebu and Egba kidnappers were not inactive at home, raiding the Ibadan farms, sometimes successfully, but sometimes repulsed, but making farming risky and unsafe until a scheme was evolved of a complete organization for home defence.

There are three main points from which the attacks may be expected (a) the farms contiguous to those of the Egbas; (b) the route leading to Ijebu Igbo; and (c) that leading to Ijebu Ode. Arrangements were perfected by building forts in a central point in each of these main routes, for the better protection of the farmers. Whilst the hunters were in the forests, hunting for game and on the look-out for kidnappers, the farmers could work in their farms with composure and confidence. They were instructed to hasten to the forts with their women and children at a given signal by the hunters. The men went to their farms well armed, and were ready for any emergency.

The fort in the direction of the Egbas was left in charge of some hunters, and a few old warriors left at home. But the Egbas once surprised the fort at Itosi and carried away much people; some of them, however, were rescued by the hunters who pursued after the kidnappers.