Abeokuta, Capital city in Ogun State, Nigeria
Abeokuta is a capital city in Ogun State, Nigeria, positioned along the eastern bank of the Ogun with hills of grey rock rising above the rooftops. Residential areas spread between wooded patches and open savanna stretches.
Sodeke founded the settlement in 1830 for Egba refugees from the crumbling Oyo empire. The community grew into a trading hub with connections to Lagos and the interior.
The name translates as "beneath the rock," reflecting how people settled in the shade of the granite outcrop that provided shelter and protection to the first arrivals.
Visitors reach the city through road and rail links from Lagos. The city has accommodation and markets in several neighborhoods.
Portions of the original 19th-century defensive wall still stand. These fortifications were built during local conflicts and spanned roughly 29 kilometers.
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