Voices from the 1930 inquiry into the Aba women’s war, By Tayo Agunbiade

The use of the Lewis machine gun to shoot the women was strongly defended by Captain Cornish: “The Lewis gun is a reliable weapon for keeping a distance. The only way to disperse an unruly mob is to kill them all.” The shooter, Lt. Browning said: “I set the machine gun ready. It is a defensive weapon and easier to control than a rifle. I ordered it to fire.”

After the Aba Women’s War in December 1929, the government, under the Collective Punishment Ordinance, set up a Commission of Inquiry in January 1930 to “investigate the circumstances under which several people died in Opobo, Abak and Ekpo during the winter disturbances.” It was chaired by Major Birrell-Gray, with Mr. HWB Blackall, Crown Counsel, representing the Government of Nigeria.

Below is some of the testimony from the Inquiry. The evidence was heard from people ranging from military officers, colonial officials, native court officials, to leaders, missionaries, farmers and, of course, women. The sit-in took place in several areas of Calabar and Owerri Provinces in towns and villages, such as Aba, Owerri, Umudike, Okigwe, Opobo, Bende, Etim Ekpo, etc.

The mood of the women, who at some point numbered about 5000, was described by Warrant Chief Akpan-Akpan Obo of Midim, whose wife Mary Udo Ekpo was killed on the Etim-Ekpo-Abak road: “I reported to the District. Officer (DO), Captain Henry James said that many women like ants on the road came to Abak. Most of the women had broad machetes and sticks; and they tied certain leaves (reason) on his head. I saw signs of war.” He also said he heard the women call each other saying: “Soldiers never shoot women.”

Unfortunately, this is a fatal assumption of women. Troops with rifles and bayonets had been mobilized from as far away as Ibadan, under the command of Thomas R. Price. In the statement, the The Commissioner of Police, Calabar Province, Captain Edmund T. Phillip Ford, said:

…We have heard that women in one of these towns (on the Ikot-Ekpene-Abak road) were advised to attack the Ikot-Ekpene station. Captain James, DO, reported to me that he had received information that a large number of women armed with sticks and machetes were approaching Abak station with the intention of destroying them. Capt. Gilbert ML Blackburn, Asst. The Commissioner of Police informed me of the disposition of the Police and that arrangements had been made to repel the attack.

From Abak, the women marched to Etim-Ekpo, only to be met by a platoon led by Lieutenant RW Browning. According to DO, Henry James:

…The men were about 100 yards away and were ordered to fire two rounds in quick succession. A few figures seemed to fall, but this did not check the crowd. They all went forward. As this had no effect, Browning ordered the Lewis Gun into action and ordered several volleys to be fired. He directed the shooting. Some of the explosions went wide – either very high or low – some explosions, four or five, took some effect and the firing stopped. The mob started running back and the troops chased them… I saw some dead bodies and some wounded women…

The use of the Lewis machine gun to shoot the women was strongly defended by Captain Cornish: “The Lewis gun is a reliable weapon for keeping a distance. The only way to disperse an unruly mob is to kill them all.” The shooter, Lt. Browning said: “I set the machine gun ready. It is a defensive weapon and easier to control than a rifle. I ordered it to fire.”

Testimony about women and about women is troubling. Mary Ebritim said she was shot in the left arm and chest, and along with Jana Umana, were treated for bullet wounds. Florence Ann Stewart said her two brothers were shot dead by soldiers and buried by the government. Nwokoba, a native doctor, testified that his pregnant wife, Oyiridio, was beaten to death. Mary Oko Jaja from Opobo also died and her brother, Walter Jaja wants to know “why?”

But there was growing dissatisfaction with the composition of the Birrell-Gray Commission. It set up a new “more representative” Commission of Inquiry in February 1930 to “investigate the disturbances in Calabar and Owerri in December last year.” It is headed by Mr. Donald Kingdon and has several Africans as commissioners, such as Sir Kitoyi Ajasa and Mr. Eric O. Moore. Barristers, including Steven B. Rhodes, M. Thompson, JS Benjamin, EE Esin, S. Macaulay and WR Awoonor-Renner, represent several affected communities, such as Aba Native Court Area, Obohia Native Court Area, Owerri District, and City Opobo.

Witnesses told how women marched by the hundreds in police stations, native courts and factories. It is an institution of male power and authority that women consider oppressive to them, their livelihoods and their communities. There is anger over palm oil prices dictated by Europeans, to the detriment of local farmers, women traders and produce traders.

Witnesses spoke of how indigenous court houses and court books were destroyed in places like Aba, Azumini, Abak and Etim Ekpo. A dispensary in Opobo, which was a tax house, was destroyed, and the factory over-ran.

Testimony about women and about women is troubling. Mary Ebritim said she was shot in the left arm and chest, and along with Jana Umana, were treated for bullet wounds. Florence Ann Stewart said her two brothers were shot dead by soldiers and buried by the government. Nwokoba, a native doctor, testified that his pregnant wife, Oyiridio, was beaten to death. Mary Oko Jaja from Opobo also died and her brother, Walter Jaja wants to know “why?” Adding: “They are making preparations for Christmas, not expecting to die.” The commissioner also heard that “a good humored woman with a stick was shot and killed by the police and troops, while the injured were taken to hospital, but many died in the bush in Opobo and Egwanga.”

In Opobo, Nwakpa was shot in the leg, and amputated. He testified that her wooden leg was “proof enough of the tragedy.” Nwakpa also confirmed that two women identified as Nwai and Suepummari from Nkoro, were hit by bullets, and fell into the German River and drowned. The woman identified only as Watugu from Akabo suffered injuries to her forehead and fingers, as well as a broken arm; while one Ama Ikpong Iko was also shot dead. Official reports state that: nine women were killed in Etim-Ekpo; in Opobo 29 were killed or died from wounds and eight drowned. Many others suffered gunshot wounds and there were several unconfirmed deaths. Witnesses also spoke of women who were “naked openly on the street, attacked freely and attacked indecently, but too ashamed to say so.”

Some women spoke strongly to the Commission about “the total end of the tax and the removal of the head of the warrant.” Ada of Ihie said, “Taxes should be abolished and the chiefs elected and changed every 18 months.” He wants the money “taken from his people” returned and says the men’s tax rate is “extreme and needs reconsideration.”

Ahudi from Isidima, who earned the title “Ibo Suffragette” in the press, advocated that “people vote for future judges.” He also opined that the chiefs have “contaminated the country under the guise of government authority and there is no security for the poor in the existing situation.” To praise the people sitting, he also said: “Women will follow the Commission about if necessary and send an appeal to the women of Europe for sympathy and help as sisters and friends of women and mothers of the world.”

Writer Tayo Agunbiade Emerging From the Margins: Women’s Experiences in Colonial and Contemporary Nigerian History.