Adeyemi I Alowolodu was the last independent King of the Oyo Kingdom. Adeyemi wrote a letter to the British as he was motivated by ongoing conflict with the Kingdom of Dahomey, whose military raids posed a sustained threat to his territory and population.https://www.nytimes.com/1923/07/08/archives/pioneer-epic-of-an-illiterate-african-tribe-the-yorubas-of-nigeria.html Dahomey incursions resulted in casualties, destruction of settlements, and disruption of trade, undermining regional stability. Lacking the resources to effectively counter these attacks, Adeyemi sought British assistance as a means of securing protection and deterring further aggression. His appeal contributed to closer relations with Britain and led to the signing of a treaty on 15 October 1881, which formalized British involvement in the area and offered political and military support against Dahomey. This, including later treaties like the 1888 British and Yoruba Treaty, signed by Alaafin Adeyemi of Oyo and Queen Victoria, establishing peace, friendship, and exclusive trade, officially bringing all Yoruba kingdoms under British protection.