Of all the Emirates that emanated from the Sokoto

Jihad of Shehu Usman Dan Fodio, Bauchi alone

was not in existence prior to that period. Also unlike

the others, the Bauchi Emirate was neither founded

by Fulani nor the Hausa. The ruling dynasty was

purely Habe rather than Fulani. Bauchi history is

associated with Yakubu, a student of Usman Dan Fodio,

who later became one of the flag bearers of the Jihad.

Yakubu first made his capital at Inkil where he stayed

for seven years, from where he later on moved to Bauchi until his death in 1845.

In 1901, Bauchi emirate, like all the others, lost its independence to the British. By 1902, the colonial army under William Wallace reached Bauchi and the ruling Emir, Usman, was deposed and exiled to Lokoja in Kogi State.

The ancestors of the people of Bauchi (GERAWA) migrated from Mandara, in present day Borno State about 1500AD. The migration was led by a Prince Mai Dugu following a Chieftaincy dispute that erupted. The migrants first settled at Haranduula, also in Borno State and later Fika in what is now Yobe State. Mai Dugu died at Fika and his son, Saidu became the head of the Community.

Consequently, Saidu and his eldest Son Bayero led the Community west towards Gere-Gabas in Bauchi area. Bayero’s Son, Yangiri was the father and grandfather of Abdu and Dadi respectively. Following the death of Abdu, the community led by Dadi continued the migration, this time to Gilliri. Dadi who was engaged in cattle rearing moved from one place to another in search of pasture for his animals. In this regard, he became attracted to the valleys of Yuli area. Initially, the Chief of Yuli refused to accommodate Dadi, but later allowed him, based on the personal intervention of the Chief of Miri, to settle at Tirwun with a few of his people.

Few years later, Dadi was appointed as Galadima of Tirwun after which he became the Chief of the Village. His son Yakubu who became the first Emir of Bauchi was born in Triwun in 1763. Dadi subsequently sent Yakubu to Jitar for training by a Muslim scholar called Mallam Ishaku. Traveling with Ishaku within the Bauchi region, the young Yakubu acquired knowledge of the area he was destined to rule.

This coincided with the period when, Shehu Usman Dan Fodio was gaining prominence as a great Islamic scholar and preacher. Mallam Ishaku therefore decided to relocate to Dagel in order to become a pupil of the great scholar, taking Yakubu along with him. They remained pupils of the righteous teacher for seven years. Thereafter, Mallam Ishaku decided to return to Jitar, while Yakubu remained at Dagel.

Following the death of his father, Yakubu was granted permission by Shehu Usman Dan Fadio to return home. In accordance with the instruction of Shehu, he inherited only a bow (Zabgai) and arrow (Kare Dangi) from his father, few years, before the holy war (Jihad) was declared.

With the commencement of the holy war (Jihad), Yakubu was back in Dagel and received a Flag from Shehu authorizing him to conduct the Jihad in the Bauchi region. In 1807, Shehu Usman Dan Fodio officially ratified his appointment as a Commander (Emir) with further instructions. His mandate included uniting the people of the region, establishing mosques, commanding the people to pray, teaching Sharia, and deepening the believers’ knowledge of the Holy Qur’an. He was also required to rid the markets of evil deeds and above all, to pursue the Jihad to its logical conclusion.

A few years later, Yakubu and his Generals were able to conquer a very large territory. The area came to be bounded in the north by Kano, Misau and Katagum emirates, in the East by Borno and Gombe, in the South by Miri and Faubi and in the west by Zaria. Bauchi named after a hunter, called Baushe whom Yakubu met in the area was chosen as headquarters. Yakubu ruled Bauchi for a period of 38 years and died at the age of 82. At his death, he had 25 children. Prominent among these were Ibrahim, Salmanu, Abdullahi, Mamudu and Halilu. These five sons are the progenitors of the “five ruling” houses of Bauchi. All subsequent Emirs of Bauchi have emanated from these ruling houses.