A lot has been said about an Igala princess-Inikpi, the stories which are generally believed to have emanated from an inevitable consequence of history as against tales and fallacy. Thus, the story of Igala history will surely not be complete without featuring the significant role of this great heroine (Princess Inikpi).
History has it that a war was imminent between the Benin Kingdom and Igala Kingdom. During this time, there was nowhere guaranteed of safety in the entire Igala Kingdom. Due to the preceding Igala loyalty and weaknesses to Benin Kingdom, all the farmlands where seized and rivers and streams were poisoned such that there was no much food and water to drink. When the situation got unbearable, the Igala people consulted the Oracle and the Oracle announced an unavoidable war in offing. In furtherance of a lasting solution, the Oracle was consulted for a way forward and it proclaimed that a reversal of the misfortune and subsequent victory in the war is possible if and only if the only daughter of the Attah (King) is buried.
Princess Inikpi been the only daughter of the then Attah Igala (Ayegba Oma Idoko), he was struck with a heart break and unprintable grief when the news got to him that only a sacrifice of the Princess Inikpi will forestall the destruction about to befall his father land. Thus, he had wished there was an alternative but alas, no alternative other than the ultimate sacrifice. Disturbed by the development, the Attah could not eat, drink or sleep and as expected of a loving daughter, Princess Inikpi noticed how downcast her father was and asked to know what was wrong. The Attah was so pained that he conceived telling her the Oracle’s demand for seven days but on the eight night, he relented and told her the tragic situation in the land.
Let it be on record that she (Princess Inikpi) was so beautiful and intelligent that she is describable as a princess preoccupied with much more than physical beauty. She has a very keen interest in the domestic science of her time. Her father (The Attah Ayegba Oma Idoko) loved her so deeply that he ensured his love for her is known by all who lived during his reign and she (Princess Inikpi) replicated her father’s love by utmost devotion and regard for him as well as all he stood for. Hence, one can only imagine the pressure of managing a kingdom with an impending war against a prominent enemy and foregoing a very dear princess knowing fully well that defeat was unavoidable for the Igala kingdom unless she (Princess Inikpi) is sacrificed. More pathetic is the fact that hers’ was to be a painful death as she would die through asphyxiation since the Oracle has demanded that she be buried alive.
Lo and behold! Princess Inikpi stunned her father who would not even let a fly land on her hair by not objecting or fighting before she agreed to the sacrifice. She maintained that if her death would bring peace and victory to the Igala Kingdom, so be it and let the ancestors have their wish. Special thanks to a reluctant father and a brave Attah as he let Princess Inikpi to voluntarily set out to the bank of River Niger at Idah-a local government area in kogi state where the ultimate sacrifice was to be performed. Whereas some historians opine that she was buried along with some servants to help her in the journey of afterlife, there is no argument about her sacrifice. And as for the Benin army (Jukuns) which approached Igala Kingdom, on sighting Idah, the town was in flames and so they turned back with the assumption that the town (Idah) is already under attack while it was the blood of Princess Inikpi that is deceiving them.
So, it was indeed a sad resolution but “the Igala people hailed and are forever grateful to Princess Inikpi’s heroism” because the sacrifice was a costly one which although very expensive made peace to reign in Igala land. No doubt, the role of Inikpi in averting disaster in Igala land still represents an important historic event in the life of the Igala people. In fact, a lot have been done to remember her and been part of her immortalization, a statue of her stands at “Ega” in Idah (Igala traditional headquarters). More so, many Igala people bear the name Inikpi in her honour and the name (Inikpi) has been generally adopted to mean princess in Igala land.
By Comrade A. M. Nasir
naadejohs@gmail.com
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