Draft:Battle of Òsogbo

The Battle of Òsogbo took place in 1840 and was a major battle of the Fula jihads of Yorubaland.

Background
The Battle of Osogbo, marked a pivotal moment in Yoruba history. Following the earlier Eleduwe War, the Ilorin forces, led by their Hausa Balogun Gambari Ali, laid siege to Osogbo, aiming to conquer the entire Yorubaland. Facing overwhelming odds, the King of Osogbo sought aid from Ibadan, the defenders of the north. Initial Ibadan reinforcements proved insufficient, and the Ilorin forces continued their advance. The besieged city and its allies were confined to surrounding thickets, prompting the Basorun of Ibadan to lead a decisive counter-attack. This move was crucial, as a victory for the Ilorin would have resulted in their dominance over Yoruba territory.

Battle
Initially hesitant to fight, the Ibadan army finally launched a surprise night attack on the Ilorin camp. The attack was meticulously planned, with the Osogbo army and earlier auxiliaries forming the center, Chiefs Abitiko and Lajubu leading the right wing, and Balogun Oderinlo and the rest of the Ibadan war chiefs forming the left wing.

The attack commenced around midnight, The first camp to be attacked was that of the Elese, the Ilorin leader, who was killed as soon as he appeared at his tent door. The Ilorin camp was caught completely off guard, and panic spread quickly. The Ilorin forces could not offer any meaningful resistance and melted away, with many falling prey to friendly fire in the chaos of their retreat.

Aftermath
The Ibadan generals, upholding a code of chivalry, released the two Ilorin commanders of Hausa origin. However, the commanders Lateju and Ajikobi, being Yoruba, were considered traitors and sent home as prisoners of war. Lateju was sentenced to death, while Ajikobi was sent to the Alafin of Oyo for execution.

The Battle of Osogbo was a resounding victory for Ibadan, marking the end of Ilorin's independent aggression in Yoruba territory. Though still aiming to dominate the region, the Ilorin shifted their strategy to manipulation and alliances, hoping to weaken the Yoruba from within. This victory solidified Ibadan's dominance and effectively saved the Yoruba nation from becoming a tributary state to the Sokoto Caliphate.