The Kingdom of Benin, modern day Benin City in Nigeria, is the area where Olaudah Equiano came from. Olaudah was a West African slave in Britian who wrote a narrative about his experience as a slave. It's considered Nigeria's most powerful kingdom and had a beautiful, rich culture. The Kingdom of Benin was very active in the transatlantic trade market. They were visited by the Portuguese in 1485 and the kingdom grew rich during the 16th and 17th centuries, mostly through trade with southern Nigeria. Their main export then was pepper and ivory. Although these two things were the main goods traded here, Benin had a stable commerce of human cargo from 1486-1702.  

There are accounts of the slave trade continuing after this period as well, one being Olaudah Equiano’s narrative The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano who was a British slave that originated from this kingdom. Olaudah was 11 years old when he was stolen from his home in Nigeria in 1756. He was kidnapped and taken to the West Indies where he was then taken to Virginia and sold to a sea captain named Michael Henry Pascal. He travelled a lot with Pascal and was able to receive some education. He was sold two more times before he was able to buy his own freedom in 1766. Once free, he settled in England where he became an active abolitionist and lectured against the cruelty of British slave owners in Jamaica. He was briefly commissary to Sierra Leone for the Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor but Equiano’s concerns for the formally enslaved settlers and their terrible treatment before their journey led to his replacement in this role. 

In 1897 there was a punitive expedition by 1,200 British soldiers led by Sir Harry Rawson. A punitive expedition is a military journey done to punish a political entity or any group of people outside the borders of the punishing state or union. It is usually in response to perceived disobedient or immoral behavior by miscreants, as revenge or corrective action, or to apply strong diplomatic pressure without a formal declaration of war. This expedition was in response to an ambush of a previous British party led by Acting Consul General James Phillips. Rawson’s troops captured and burned the city to the ground, which led to the fall of the Kingdom of Benin. Benin was absorbed into British Nigeria until they gained independence in 1960. Now the Kingdom of Benin is the modern day Ido and Benin City area in southern Nigeria. 

Sources:

https://www.persee.fr/doc/cea_0008-0055_1965_num_5_18_3035

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Olaudah-Equiano