The long wars in the interior were no doubt affecting trade in Lagos adversely. In I861, Lagos had become a British colony and the British Governor there depended on customs duties from trade to maintain the Lagos administration. If trade was to go on, then the British must intervene to stop the endless wars in Yoruba land as these wars were hampering the free flow of trade to and from the coast. So various attempts were made to extend British political influence to the hinterland in order to bring the wars to an end
The opportunity for British intervention came when the Egbado long oppressed by the Egba appealed to the British Governor to place them under British protection. Thus, in 1890, Governor Moloney established a small, British garrison at Ilaro the capital of Egbado. This marked the beginning of British military occupa- tion of Yorubaland. In 1892, a punitive expedition was sent against Ijebu. As Crowder put it, "The speedy defeat of the Ijebu was the most significant step in the British occupation of Yorubaland . "In 1893, Abeokuta entered into a treaty with the Gilbert Carter, She agreed to submit all disputes between the Egba and the British to the Governor's arbitration, allow free trade and abolish human sacrifice provided her independence was guaranteed A similar treaty made with the Alafin of Oyo granted the British free access to all Yorubaland, promised free trade, the toleration of Christianity, abolition of human sacrifice, and not to enter in to any treaties with other powers without the permission of the Governor of Lagos. Finally, in the same year (1893), Ibadan accepted a similar treaty after it had been assured that it would not compromise her in dependence. However, this treaty made Ibadan the headquarters of Yorubaland. Following this, a British Resident and a small ish Governor force were stationed there. These treaties in effect made Yorubaland a British protectorate and undermined the sovereignty of the Alafin. However, they restored peace to Yorubaland and with it legitimate trade prospered.
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY FREEVIBES
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