Observation

Candidates were to highlight on the problems Benin faced in the 19th Century. The question was unpopular. Some saw it as asking about description of the fall of Benin. The performance was poor. Candidates were expected to mention the following points in order to get good marks.

(i) Loss of source of revenue arising from the abolition of trans-Atlantic slave trade.
(ii) Inaccessibility to trade routes e.g. Lagos.
(iii) Treats arising from the Yoruba civil wars.
(iv) Loss of the cloth market to the Ijebu.
(v) Effects of the Sokoto Jihad.
(vi) Dominance of Ibadan which computed with Benin.
(vii) Succession disputes.
(viii) Revolts of the Vassal States.
(ix) Weakness of the army as a result of frequent wars.
(x) Insecurity of lives and property due to slave raids.
(xi) British incursion into Benin.
(xii) The Benin massacre of 1897.