Charter & Protectorate (1885–1900) — Bayelsa State

1886–1894 RNC monopoly squeeze — the Royal Niger Company closes the upper Niger to Nembe and Brass traders, destroying their inland palm-kernel trade. Repeated petitions to the Foreign Office are ignored.
29 January 1895 — Akassa Raid. King Koko Mingi VIII of Nembe leads 1,500 warriors against RNC headquarters at Akassa; ~40 Company employees killed and the trade depot seized.
February 1895 — Bedford Expedition. Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford burns Nembe and Brass to the ground; reprisal kills hundreds of civilians, includes the destruction of the Nembe royal court, and forces Koko into the creeks (he dies in exile at Etiema, 1898). The 1896 Kirk Inquiry vindicates Brassmen grievances — and triggers the revocation of the RNC charter on 31 December 1899.Unprosecuted Massacre Cycle