Usman Dan Fodio, born into the Torokawa family in 1754, was the leader of the largest jihad in Nigeria and West Africa. He studied law, theology and philosophy in Agades under the tutelage of a certain Umar. His studies on these topics inspired him to embrace the religion of Islam. Usman Dan Fodio migrated to Gobir after graduating from Agades. In Gobir, paganism mixed with Islam, which really irritated and angered Usman Dan Fodio, who started preaching Islam to the people.Over time, his popularity grew in Gobir and reached a point where the King of Gobir, Rimfa, became jealous of Usman Dan Fodio and attempted to assassinate him. Fortunately, he escaped the attack. This did not prevent him from preaching Islam and condemning the maladministration of the king of Rimfa. After his death, Yunfa, the son of Rimpha, succeeded him as king of Gobir. In 1798, Yunfa, once a disciple of Usman Dan Fodio, made another failed assassination attempt and later banned Usman’s followers from wearing turbans and veils.Despite all these obstructionist actions, the number of Usman Dan Fodio’s supporters continued to grow. In 1803, Yunfa tried to kill Usman Dan Fodio again but failed. Usman fled with his followers to the city of Gudu. He and his supporters called the migration to Gudu “Hejira”. In Gudu Usman, Dan Fodio decided that it was time to bring justice to Yunfa and his people and make them realize that their way of life was not in accordance with Islam.For this reason, he declared jihad (holy war) on the pagan kings. The declaration of jihad spread throughout the country and many people volunteered to join his “liberation army.” In 1804, he officially declared holy war on the entire Hausa country. The jihad/war known as the Fulani Jihad or Sokoto Jihad lasted until 1810 when the entire Hausa land was conquered and the old Bornu Empire was brought to its knees. Later in 1817, Usman Dan Fodio died after successfully uniting and merging the fourteen former Hausa states into a single Fulani empire. Usman Dan Fodio remains one of the greatest figures in the history of Nigeria and West Africa.
