The w.hite men (Slav.e masters) did not just go into people's lands to capture them for slav.ery.

The w.hite men (Slav.e masters) did not just go into people's lands to capture them for slav.ery. 

Before contact with the whites, the ancient Igbo's already had a caste system. 

These caste system made it easy for the white man's business to flourish. 

The ancient Igbos already had 'Ohus' 

The Ohus(Ohu) are people captured during battles. 

When two towns engage in a battle, the town that loose becomes 'Ohu' sl.ave to the victorious town. 

These Ohus are sold and used for purpose to their new masters. 

Their right becomes limited

They are prohibited from having any intimate relationship with the nwadiala's (freeborn). 

So,  when the white man came with his business, it was easy for the ancient Igbos to give their Ohu to the sla.ve masters in exchange of hot drink, radio, mirror, and other fanciful things the w.hite man came along with. 

It soon grew into an established business, and the ancient Igbos did not only sell their Ohus, they began to sell off members of other caste system such as;  

The Ume :  People with abom.inable birth. They were born out of inc.est committed by two blood relatives. 

Osu: People dedicated to a shrine. 

There is even an unpopular claim that some people sold their stubborn relatives out for slav.ery. 

Others, including the Nwadiala's were captured and so.ld too. 

The ancient Igbos were ignorant to the inhu.mane treatment their people had to go through in the hands of the slave mas.ters.