Chapter 5: All-Out War

After this, Alaafin no gree again. He change the fight from small border wahala to real war—'if na fight you want, na fight you go get.'

Alaafin gather Oyomesi for palace shrine, swear new oath. 'No more small fight—na total war. Anybody wey run, head go roll!' Palace drummers beat war rhythm three days straight, hunters dey sacrifice for Ogun shrine, make their guns never fail.

Early rainy season 1769, March. For Oyo palace, thunder dey roll, rain dey fall like say e no go stop.

Cloud dark, lightning dey flash. The palace roof dey leak, but nobody move. King stand for open courtyard, let the rain wash his face, vow before Sango and Orunmila: 'I must win this war.' All city, from old men for Agbala to young girls for market, dey pray for Oyo.

Alaafin himself begin direct the war against Benin. He check all the old records about Benin, tell his people to find information everywhere.

King no sleep—he read old scrolls, call in elders wey fight Benin before, send spies to find Benin secret. Sango priest give him divination, warn am to respect Benin power, but Alaafin no send. He swear say, 'I go end this once and for all.'

Na there he realise say Benin no be the 'small country' wey he think. Even Itsekiri, wey dey pay tribute to Oyo for long, Benin don finish am. Benin don dey rule the region since.

Alaafin realize say Oyo pride dey for line. Even Itsekiri, former Oyo vassal, now dey bend knee for Benin. City criers begin spread warning: 'Make una no underestimate Benin again.' For market, old women dey whisper, 'Time don reach for Oyo to humble small.'

Plus, most Benin army don get 'Western self-igniting guns' (European flintlock muskets).

Spies bring back one flintlock, king examine am. He marvel at the way Benin men fit reload quick-quick, say, 'Oyo must get our own.' Blacksmiths begin work round the clock, trying to copy oyibo style.

Alaafin say, 'Okay, no wahala. I go show you.'

The king draw his sword, call his generals, swear with bitter kola and alligator pepper. He tell them: 'If Benin think say na play, dem go see pepper.' Even the palace dancers dey fear the fire wey dey king eye.

For April, he appoint Bashorun Afonja as main commander for the war, give am power for everything, assign top generals Balogun Ojo and Otunba Sanya as deputies. He gather all the empire’s best fighters: Areago Tunde, Osi Adebayo, Seriki Musa, and others—all dem na war-tested men from Nupe battle.

Na new dawn for Oyo—Afonja, strong like buffalo, get heart wey no dey fear gun. He call Ojo, Sanya, Tunde, Adebayo, Musa—men wey bullet no dey enter. For palace, women dey tie white cloth, children dey sing, city dey buzz as warriors prepare.

Alaafin no even stop there. He bring out Oyo’s 'hidden treasures'—four elite units, all correct soldiers:

1) Ogbomosho hunters—Oyo empire’s best. Even Nupe dey fear them, everybody sabi say dem no dey lose for the bush;

2) Artillery Corps—special unit wey dey use dane guns and plenty field artillery;

3) Cavalry—after Borgu Kingdom fall, Oyo arrange the remaining horsemen, dem strong pass any cavalry for the region;

4) Royal Guards—palace warriors wey dey guard the king, na Alaafin’s own men, dem hardly dey send them go war.

All these na about 9,000 men. Some go ask, 'Why e no even reach 10,000? How dem wan fight big war with small number?' Na because dem no understand say these Oyo elite soldiers strong pass ordinary army.

If you see the way Ogbomosho hunters dey walk—eyes sharp, step steady, dem dey smell danger before e land. Artillery men dey carry their gun like baby, horsemen dey gallop like thunder. Royal Guards wear red beads, their face shine with palm oil, war charm for neck. For city, everybody dey praise dem, say, 'Na these ones go bring Oyo glory back.'

To talk true, any of these four units na the highest level for West Africa that time.

E get one saying: 'If Ogbomosho hunter waka your farm, even bush rat go pack load.' Na the level of respect wey these units get. Stories dey fly everywhere about their heroics—how one hunter fit take down lion, or how artillery men bring down two Benin forts in one night.

But Alaafin still no relax. He send 'Oyo special forces'—the Eso Corps.

Eso Corps na real wahala—no fear, no retreat. Dem dey train inside bush, sleep for tree, use arrow like finger. For city, people dey greet them, 'Eso o!' and salute. Even palace guards dey respect their swagger. Eso Corps fit cross river midnight, catch enemy off-guard before cock crow.

Eso Corps training different from normal soldiers. Archery, guns, hand fight, formation—all na normal for them; but their real work na to rush enemy and finish am sharp sharp.

Dem fit move from forest to city in one night, blend into any village, fight like spirit. Their commander dey use leopard skin, tie special beads for wrist. When war start, na Eso Corps dey lead front, their whistle na signal of death for enemy.

Alaafin spend plenty money train them, first to storm big Nupe forts during the Nupe Campaigns.

People still dey talk about how Eso Corps use night raid scatter Nupe stronghold, collect fort like chicken egg. Alaafin no dey regret—na better investment. Any Eso man wey fall for battle, palace dey celebrate his name like king.

Because dem dey stay for Oyo outskirts, people dey call them 'Oyo Eso.'

For village, children dey run to road, point finger anytime dem see Eso man. 'Oyo Eso don pass!' Dem dey respect, but small fear dey their eye. Everybody know say na warriors wey no dey joke.

End of April, before Afonja move, Alaafin add this elite force join am.

For palace, king do special sacrifice, break white kola, pour gin for ground. Eso Corps come out, dance round the king, take blessing from Sango priest. Drums beat till morning, as all Oyo dey prepare for battle.