Oba Ozolua resumes campaign; orders church to be built in Benin City

In August 1516 the Oba returned to Benin City and gave orders that a church should be built there. Benin tradition insists that Roman Catholic churches were built in the city and indicates their sites precisely (at Ogbelaka, Idumwerie and Akpakpava/Ikpoba Road), though no documentary or archaeological evidence has yet confirmed this. In October 1516 the Oba departed again to resume the war, taking the missionary Duarte Pires and possibly the priests with him. The rains would have made it difficult to begin building before his departure.