The Royal Niger Company meanwhile establishes its…

The Royal Niger Company meanwhile establishes its headquarters far inland at Lokoja, from where it pretends to assume responsibility for the administration of areas along the Niger and Benue rivers where it maintains depots.

The company interfered in the territory along the Niger and the Benue, sometimes becoming embroiled in serious conflicts when its British-led native constabulary intercepts slave raids or attempts to protect trade routes.

The company negotiated treaties with Sokoto, Gwandu, and Nupe that are interpreted as guaranteeing exclusive access to trade in return for the payment of annual tribute.

Officials of the Sokoto Caliphate consider these treaties quite differently; from their perspective, the British are granted only extraterritorial rights that do not prevent similar arrangements with the Germans and the French and certainly do not surrender sovereignty.