HOW QUEEN AMINA DIED IN ATTAGARA, KOGI STATE
Queen Amina was the daughter of King Nikitau, the 22nd King of Zazzau. After the death of their father, her elder brother, Karama became the King. There were many wars fought by Karama in order to expand the kingdom as done in those days. In those wars, the young Amina was part of the warriors.
Not too long, her brother, the king, died, and Amina was made the King (Queen) by the Kingmakers. This time, she had to organize special warriors as she wanted. She continued the expansion of the kingdom by invading towns, taking over the rulership by installing her person or making them to be paying tribute to her. From Zaria, she was expanding her kingdom left, right and center. After expanding from far North to North Central (middle belt), it was the time to take over Igala land to be part of the Zazzau kingdom, and Igala kingdom to be ruled by a Hausa person that she will install. Igala, in those days was like a state or country on her own. She had almost all the sectors in Nigeria of today including security structure though not in modern form. This also include the Navy who are on the waters.
Amina was coming with her warriors, and this time they were already at Itobe where the Igala check point was situated at that time. Now, it was their role to stop and search the people before people will pass. And anyone suspected to be a problem person will be denied access to Igala kingdom. On this day, Amina was been carried on her chair by 4 men accompanied by many warriors with horses. It is a taboo to even carry a man apart from Attah Igala like that in Igala let alone been a woman. Apart from that, suspicius people are not allowed into the kingdom even through the river Niger as Aboko and Agaidoko Royal Navies were always at work on the river Niger. The Igala soldiers at the check point gave them the command to stop, they were still coming.
They (Igala warriors) asked them to stop but they were still coming. In the process, the exchange of firé started. In the battle, the Queen died, and could not reach the palace of Attah Igala though already in Igala land or Attah Igala land which they now call Attagara. When the heat was still much from the Igala warriors, the Zazzau Army had to run to various directions. The body of the Queen was brought to Idah, and reported to Attah Igala. Attah asked them to bury her in a location called Oko Ichekpa at Okpachala Ogbagba, a community which is a stone’s throw from Idah. Till date, the forest is preserved by Attah Igala as a historical ground. This occurred in 1610 during the era of Attah Aidoko as Attah Igala. And of course, she was a courageous warrior.