Who was Ologbosere, and why was he executed by the British?

 

Ologbosere was indeed executed by the British on June 28, 1899, the details surrounding his death are a subject of some controversy.

Ologbosere was a high-ranking official in the Kingdom of Benin, which was located in what is now Nigeria. In 1897, the British launched a punitive expedition against Benin after a group of British officials were killed in a dispute with the kingdom's leaders. The British army looted and burned the city of Benin and sent the king, Ovonramwen, into exile.

After the fall of Benin, Ologbosere and other Edo leaders continued to resist British rule. Ologbosere and his followers launched a guerrilla war against the British, using hit-and-run tactics to harass British troops.

Ologbosere was eventually captured by the British and charged with "treason and rebellion." He was tried and found guilty, and was hanged at exactly 8 a.m. on June 28, 1899.

To many Edo people, Ologbosere was a symbol of resistance against British imperialism and colonialism. His execution was seen as an act of injustice and brutality, and many Edo people continued to resist British rule for years to come.