International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest

Extract

Like most societies under European occupation, Nigeria has experienced violent protests and revolts from the colonial to post-independence era. The history of the colonization of Nigeria is marked by a history of militant conflict and European occupation and subjugation that precluded the capture and surrender of some local authorities, including the Sokoto Caliphate, the Ijebu, and Benin Kingdom. The system of indirect rule introduced by the colonial regime following the defeat of local rulers served European interests, ensuring social order through administration by regional officials. The first major protest against this system was the Aba Women's Revolt of October 1929 , in which some 10,000 women rebelled against the plan of British officials to tax women directly, independently of men. The women attacked native courts, warrant officers, and European factories. The British colonial authority decided to quell the revolt by force, causing the death of dozens of protesters. Though the revolt was suppressed, the imperial government abolished plans for the Warrant Chief System that would have taxed women ( van Allen 1972 ). The Aba Women's Revolt bore the characteristics of economic and political protest from citizens, but ethnic and communal disturbances have also been a common feature in Nigeria during the twentieth century. The first major upheaval was the October 1945 Hausa-Ibo ... log in or subscribe to read full text