SEVERED (EPISODE 3)

ÀRỌ̀NÌ Ò WÁLÉ, ONIKÒYÍ Ò SIMI OGUN

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By the time Oníkòyí and his army got to the gate of the city of the savages, they were already tired out from the long journey. So, they quickly agreed among themselves to besiege the city for days. In that wise, the city after exhausting her food storage will be forced to surrender. However, if the city of savages got its name from the notoriety of its king, definitely this people are well advanced in architecture, arts and war strategy. The city of savages was enclosed by a circular moats of intervening walls. That means, when you go through one, you will meet another wall and a ready army of savages to fight. Even if you manage to fight that one, the second gate and other gates are not in alignment with the first. You may have to go half circle to get to the second gate and so with the rest.

Woe betides thee who tries to follow the circumference of the tall walls, for there lies many deadly traps on the broad way. Only savages themselves know the secret passages in and out of the city. At the centre of this spiraling wall lies the palace of the king. It is from there that one will discover the whole city was built on a huge hill spreading 3 to 5 miles in all directions. Rumour has it that it is in one of the chambers that the king kept princess Àrọ̀nì as prisoner and plans to turn her the most beloved of his numerous mistresses. He had dresses her up with most beautiful clothe full of exotic plumages and gemstones in the land.

Aware of the fact that any delay to rescue Àrọ̀nì on time could be costly, Oníkòyí and his army hit the wall of the city very early the second day. Moats, as magnificent as they are, constitute no impediment to the well trained army of Oníkòyí. The enemy archers, who had been stationed at the top of the moat to shoot the advancing army were rendered useless by the smoke strategy. To beat archers stationed like this, ògùṣọ̀ is lit and placed in a large bowl mounted on a horse back, a certain kind of leaves are put in the fire and this makes a lot of smoke. The horse is made to run and encircle the city, the speed creating wind that blows the Ògùṣọ̀ and more smoke rises to the air.

The smoke, apart from constituting a screen for Oníkòyí 's army, is a very deadly poison when people are exposed to it for long. Even minimal exposure would cause dizziness. Only Oníkòyí 's army knows what other things are added to the fire to make it poisonous and the antidote to it, for they can fight in the thick of the smoke.

Igba agódóńgbó l'Oníkòyí f'ewé àmọ́ bò lórí
Igba Ògùṣọ̀ l'Oníkòyí kì lóògún
Akúwárápá wọn kì í rójú àti ja'gun
Apòòyí wọn kì í rójú àti jà láàjìn,

Oníkòyí had an easy way with the first wall, but they were unprepared for the second wall. More, the gate of the second wall was not directly aligned with the first. They will need to go half circle or a quarter before they could reach another gate. Though they captured some of the savage soldiers who were commanded to lead them, but Oníkòyí men were surprised when each of the hostages took out their swords and impaled themselves with it, grinning widely as they go down.

Ìjà ò rẹ̀ mi, mo b'Óníkòyí jà títí
Mo mú'kú re kende ara l'ójú ogún
Mo f'ẹ̀hìn ọ̀kọ̀ mọkùn láàlà

They will rather sacrifice their lives than reveal the secret of the passage way! The Oníkòyí army had fought many battles. They were there when Ọ̀yọ́ fought Dahomey and subdued them. They were there when the Ọ̀yọ́ army fought Ìbàrìbá warriors to standstill. But never had they fought in this war of tricks and traps. Horses were rendered useless, charms and juju could not be used. It becomes battle of wits as they progressed in the labyrinth of the king of savages. Can we safely say this a precursor to the battle we fight nowadays?

N ò ì gbọ́njú lọ́jọ́ ogun ń ja Ará
N ò ì dàgbà lọ́jọ́ ogun ń jà l'Ọfà
M̀bá ti gbọ́njú ni, m̀bá f'ọ̀tún yìnbọn idẹ
M̀bá f'òsì ta'fà a bàbà
M̀bá f'ọ̀pá ìlù dá'gun méjì láàrin
Ogun a máa gbóná janjan!

This is a lesson to Africans in general. The battle we are fighting is battle of wits, science and technology. Fine, we might not have been there when our forefathers were enslaved, it is our responsibility not to allow this impending second wave of slavery happen.

Every now and then, Oníkòyí thought he heard the piercing voice of Àrọ̀nì begging for mercy. Every now and then, Oníkòyí is jostled back to reality when hidden ẹ̀bìtì impaled one of his warriors or one fell inside covered pit. It got to a point, Oníkòyí had to tell his army to stop. He sent men back to Ọ̀yọ́ to go and give situation report to Aláàfin and ask for reinforcement.

Aláàfin gave Oníkòyí all what he demanded: food, money and more soldiers. But he told the messengers to tell him:

"Àrọ̀nì ò wálé, Oníkòyí ò simi ogún ní lílọ." "You either die there or bring my princess"

When this words got to Oníkòyí, he was very disturbed. He has lost many men due to this war of pranks the savage people are fighting. Who even labeled this people savages. They are well advanced when it comes to how to defend their city from external aggression. Oníkòyí thought if he ever survived this war, this is one lesson he will teach all Yoruba. Self preservation is the most paramount. You need to defend your land, cities and people with the most advance technology you could come by.

By the time the reinforcement came, Oníkòyí changed tactics! The tactic will save unnecessary loss of lives of his warriors who, though had vowed to death or to glory with him, he would not want to waste their lives unnecessarily if it is avoidable. What did Oníkòyí do to save the day?

Stay tuned.
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