On August 8, 1914, in the quiet village of Ijemo, near Abeokuta in present day Ogun State, a peaceful meeting turned into one of the darkest moments in Egba history. Villagers, men, women, and children had gathered to discuss their concerns over harsh colonial and Egba administrative policies. They were protesting forced labor, unfair taxes, and the loss of their traditional freedom under British control.
But instead of dialogue, they were met with gunfire. Colonial soldiers, acting under orders from the British authorities and the Egba United Government, suddenly opened fire on the unarmed crowd. Many were killed on the spot, including community leaders and families who had come only to speak about their rights and their future.
The tragedy shocked the whole region. The Ijemo Massacre not only claimed innocent lives but also marked the beginning of the end for the Egba United Government, which had previously enjoyed limited self-rule under an 1893 treaty with the British. After the killings, the British used the unrest as an excuse to dissolve Egba autonomy and bring the entire territory under direct colonial control. This marked the final loss of Egba independence and the complete absorption of Abeokuta and its people into colonial Nigeria.
For the people of Ijemo, the massacre remains a painful memory of injustice and betrayal. It represents how the colonial government used violence to silence local voices and how communities that dared to question authority paid a terrible price. Yet, it is also remembered as a symbol of resistance and courage a reminder that even in the face of oppression, ordinary people stood up for their dignity and freedom. Today, more than a century later, Ijemo continues to honour the memory of those who died that day, keeping alive the story of a community that was silenced by force but never forgotten.
