Her father sought guidance from the gods, they attributed the events to the wrath of the goddess Ohe due to his sins. As punishment, Ahebi was to become the “igo ma ogo,” or wife of the deity. To escape this fate, she fled to neighbouring Igala Land.
Ahebi’s story begins tragically. When she was 13 or 14, her family faced hardships like poor harvests, illness, and slow trading.
In exile, Ahebi found power through prostitution and sex work. She used her intelligence and charm to build relationships with influential men like the Igala king and British officials. This network helped her learn multiple languages like English, Igala, Pidgin English, and Nupe.
