How Ohiogba Of Mozum Granted Bassa Komu Asylum In
His Land In 1870

In the year 1870, the people of Mozum noticed an unusual gathering of a group of people at the Northern Bank of the River Benue opposite Mozum town. As the group grew in number, Mozum people became apprehensive of the type of people they were and what they wanted. This necessitated the attention of the District Head (Ohiogba) who immediately summoned his Council members for a meeting after which, a delegation backed with war boats went out there to enquire about their mission.
Twelve war boats were arranged to confront the intruders, should their mission be for war against the Mozum Kingdom. Seven of the war boats were strategically positioned in the middle of the river with the War Commander (Oseze Ogbani) in charge. Three strongmen were then mandated to meet with the strange people. On arrival at the scene, the leaders of the intruders (Bassa Komus) welcomed the delegates warmly.
On demand for their mission, they explained that they were seeking for asylum, as they had been forced out of their domain by the rampaging Nupe warriors who were killing and enslaving them. Having heard their quest, the delegate asked them to maintain the status quo as they report back their mission to the Ohiogbo. Meanwile, the war boats maitained their strategic position in the middle of the river should they be playing prank.
When the delegates reported their findings to Ohiogba, he again summoned his council members and elders of the town for a decision. The meeting then resolved that the delegate go back to the Bassa Komus to find out (1) what they do for a living and (2) whether or not they were armed. The Bassa Komu leaders responded that farming was their preoccupation and that they were not armed and wondered why they should be armed while begging for asylum to save their lives.
On receiving this report, the Council and elders decided that the Ohiogba travel to Idah to inform HRH, OKILOKO the then Attah of Igala before taking a final decision. Without much ado, the Ohiogba did as decided and informed Attah of all that happened. In response, Attah enquired whether Ohiogba had found out about their occupation, how many clans they were and also made sure that they were not armed? When the Ohiobga responded in affirmative, the Attah advised that Ohiobga should not carry all of them across the river, but a few from each clan and that they should remain within Ohiobga’s kingdom and not enter the land of Ajobi (the present day Dekina). Ohiogba accepted and did as advised. Such was the sacrifice the Ohiobga made to grant Bassa Komus asylum in his kingdom.
In a meeting with his council, elders and gagos, they resolved to grant Bassa Komus asylum in Mozum Kingdom. For security reasons, they devided the five Bassa Komu clans among the gagos as follows:

1. Ashashama clan was allocated to the Gago of Mozum and environ;
2. Akuba clan allocated to Gago of Ogbabeta and surrounding villages from Oguma to Aloko;
3. Arishamshi clan given to Ibohu and were kept at Ayede and environs;
4. Zongolo clan was given to Ahutara and Ozugbe and kept them at Okpokin, now Okpanke;
5. Edigeshi clan went to ……………?
   That is how Ohiogba of Mozum gave the Bassa Komu asulum to save the lives of their forerunners and now it is the same Egbura people that have become their enemies that they are hunting and raising guns to kill.
   May be the Bassa Komu youths were not informed about how their great grand fathers were given asylum. During his reign, Aguma Ododo of the Bassa Komus was known to tell Bassa Komu youths to avoid enemity between them and Egbura people because they were the people that gave them asylum. Even those of us born in the 50s know how there was cordial relationships between Bassa Komus and the Egburas their hosts.
   Thus, I wish to call on Bassa Komu youths to lay off their arms and look for peaceful co-existence as has been the case over the years.
   M.I. Ada Ogbu Mozum