In the absence of the existence of traditional rulers in Igbo communities the British colonial administration appointed the

In the absence of traditional rulers in Igbo communities, the British colonial administration appointed Warrant Chiefs to administer local affairs. The Igbo people of Nigeria have a long history of self-governance through democratic processes and village councils. However, the British colonial administration, in their effort to exert control over the people, abolished these democratic structures and replaced them with a centralized system of indirect rule. To administer local affairs, the British colonial administration appointed Warrant Chiefs who were seen as collaborators with the colonial regime. The Warrant Chiefs were selected from among the educated elite in the communities and were given authority to collect taxes, settle disputes and maintain law and order. The imposition of Warrant Chiefs was highly unpopular among the Igbo people, who saw them as puppets of the colonial regime. The system of Warrant Chiefs was eventually abolished in the 1930s, after a series of protests and uprisings by the Igbo people.