It was at first mistaken for the Fulani slave raiders who usually passed by Osogun.
However, within a short time, the village was surrounded by the Foulahs, the “Yoruba Muslims”. They numbered about 2,000 on strong swift horses.
The enemies came at a time when most of the able men and women of the town had left at home for work. Houses were ruthlessly set on fire and the inhabitants fled for their lives. The whole town was in flames. Ajayi, his mother, and two sisters ran into the hands of two of the raiders, who put nooses around their necks.
They were later marched to Iseyin where the 12-year-old Ajayi was exchanged for a horse. He was then taken to the town of Ijaye where he was sold to a Muslim woman. This woman was planning to take him on a journey to Popo, which is today known as Aného in the West African country of Togo, when Ajayi knew he would never return.
About six months later and after a series of exchanges, Ajayi and 188 other slaves were loaded aboard a Portuguese slave ship, destined for either Cuba or Brazil. But as luck would have it, a British abolitionist warship spied the fleeing slave ship in Lagos and captured the ship, placing the Portuguese captain in chains and transferring all 187 slaves into their ship.
Thirteen days later, the slaves were allowed to move freely on deck.
With the full joy and realisation that they were to be freed, Ajayi spotted the Portuguese captain. His first act of vengeance was to give the captain a striking blow across the head! Wham!!
Answer to the question:
As to why the slaves weren't released in Lagos where they were captured, they would have been retaken and resold as slaves anyway. It was therefore much safer for them to be transported to Freetown in Sierra Leone. #HistoryVille#
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