Muhammad Bello "Maigari" bin Ahmadu "Babbawa" (1880–1928) was the 8th Lamido Adamawa and was a great-grandson of Modibbo Adama.[1] Prior to his ascension to the throne of Adamawa, he was the founder and Lamido of Nassarawo in modern-day Jada.[2][3]
| Muhammad Bello Maigari | |
|---|---|
| |
| Emir of Adamawa | |
| Reign | 23 August 1924 – 1928 |
| Predecessor | Muhammad Abba bin Ahmadu |
| Successor | Muhammad Mustafa bin Muhammad Abba |
| Born | Muhammad Bello 1880 |
| Died | 1928 (aged 47–48) Yola, Adamawa Province, Colonial Nigeria |
| Issue | Yerima Ahmadu |
| House | House of Hamidu |
| Father | Yerima Babbawa bin Hamidu |
Life edit
Maigari's father and grandfather edit
Maigari was born in 1880 during the reign of Lamido Umaru Sanda. His father, Yerima Babbawa, was the grandson of Modibbo Adama and the Lamdo of Nyibango. Yerima's father, Hamidu bin Modibbo Adama, administered a significant swath of land primarily inhabited by Chamba and Verre peoples, establishing Nyibango (also known as Hibango), about 30 miles south west of Yola, as its administrative center.[3]: 77–78
After Lamido Lawal's death in 1872, the primary contenders to succeed him were Hamidu and Sanda, both sons of Modibbo Adama, the emirate's founder. Hamidu emerged as the leading candidate, being the eldest surviving son of Adama and the most learned. However, the Yola Saraki'en (aristocracy) chose to endorse the younger Umaru Sanda for succession, presenting him to Sultan Abubakar-na-Rabah of Sokoto. Upon reviewing both sides, the Sultan sided with Hamidu and called for his appointment as Lamido. The Yola Saraki'en sent a letter to the Sultan appealing his decision, but Hamidu died before a reply could be given. Consequently, Umaru Sanda was appointed as Lamido.[4]: 121
Lamido Sanda subsequently appointed Yerima Babbawa, who was 14 years old at the time, as the new Lamdo Nyibango. However, Sanda later reconsidered this decision and attempted to remove him but Yerima swore to defend Nyibango till death, prompting Sanda to back down.[5]
When Germany and Britain colonised the region in the early 20th-century, only a small portion of Yerima's domain, including Nyibango, fell under British control, while the rest came under German rule in Kamerun. Yerima, deeming himself too old to serve under European colonial rule, retired to his hometown of Nyibango.[3]: 77–78
Founding of Nassarawo and conflict with the British edit
After the British colonial forces captured Yola in 1901, Maigari fled the city along with Lamido Zubeiru. Their small group traversed various villages, eluding European forces in the emirate and never staying in one place for two consecutive nights. The Germans, led by Hans Dominik, eventually caught up with Lamido Zubeiru in Marwa, leading to a battle. Using machine guns, Dominik's army killed four hundred and twenty-four Sikirris ('those vowed to die') of Lamdo Ahmadu of Marua. Despite the onslaught, Zubeiru and his party managed to escape, finding sanctuary in the Mandara hills. While passing through Bazza (now part of modern-day Michika), the group was robbed. A Kanuri man named Bukar came to their aid, providing Maigari with a spear for defense. Two decades later, when Maigari became Lamido, he reciprocated this act of kindness. After nearly two years of fleeing, Zubeiru was killed in a village called Go, by some Lala men believing him to be a slave raider.[1]: 58–63 [3]: 404
When Maigari returned to Nyibango and seeing the new developments, he immediately went to the "German" side and got recognised as the ruler of that part of the territory by the local populations as he refused to accept the surrender of essentially the entirety of his father's territory. In a letter to the colonial Governor of Bokari Busso on January 26, 1918, Maigari wrote that his Father, Yerima, "did not want his family to lose what had been theirs. He took me to Garoa and introduced me to the German officer there and asked him to make me the District Head of the German share of the old Nyibango territory. The Germans agreed and I have been the District Head of Nassarawo since the past 18 years".[5] He tried to convince his father and the people of his territory to join him on the "German" side of the territory and abandon the "British" side. He managed to convince a large number of Fulani, Chamba and Verre peoples to join him but not his father. Maigari founded his town of Nassarawo and made it the capital of his territory.[2][3]
Maigari immediately started sending the Germans gifts to try and get their support of which the British did not appreciate. They claimed he was manipulating the Fulani and Chamba people. They accused him of sending raiders to their territory to caputure slaves and steal from farms. They issued an arrest-warrant on him and branded him a criminal. Mounted armed troops were sent to capture him near the border. He was eventually captured but he managed to escape before he could be taken to Yola.[3] On 20 February, Barclay, a British Resident of Yola, met Captain Strumpell, German Resident, to urge him to catch Maigari. Strumpwell agreed to fulfill this wish but the Germans were unwilling to curb Maigari. The British appointed a nephew of Yerima, Hammawa bin Iyabano bin Hamidu, as Lamido of the British "portion" of the territory with the capital remaining at Nyibango. This appointment led into a "pathethic family feud" which led to a lot of bloodshed and bitterness and lasted up until the First World War.[3]
Maigari under the British edit
During the Kamerun campaign of the First World War, Maigari originally fought on the side of the Germans but he soon realised that he was on the side that was likely to lose. He quickly changed sides and allied with the British. The Germans set a bounty on his head and he was eventually arrested. He was assigned nine soldiers to take him to Kontcha but in the night, Maigari killed four soldiers and managed to escape to Yola with all four of their heads. He presented the heads to the British there who then put him on house arrest before allowing him to return to Nassarawo.[6]
Maigari was now under British colonial rule but largely enjoyed autonomous freedom. He grew more powerful than he ever was by increasing his territory. He regularly refused orders from Yola which frustrated the colonial administrators but they respected his competence describing him as "the most important and far the ablest of the District Heads". The colonial Officer who translated one of his letters to the Governor "admired his strong personality and administrative capabilities" and suggested he could be appointed Lamido Adamawa. He, however, was greatly feared among the Chamba and other non-Fulani groups of the area. He led or ordered raids on villages that led to destruction of farmlands and left many people dead.
During the First World War, Babbawa moved to Nassarawo to stay with his son and live out the rest of his life. The constant raids sent by the British from Yola when Maigari was still with the Germans, however, led Babbawa to move to Mapeo, 15 miles from Nassarawo. Babbawa was killed in Mapeo not long after. Maigari wrote to the regional Governor:
My father died fighting like an old lion among a pack of wild dogs; they brought his Fez, his Gown and his Praying beads to (Lamido) Abba in Yola. Am I to swear loyalty and obedience to this Abba? Am I to suffer his taunts and insults? Am I the son of my murdered father? Were there no Europeans in this area, the Lamido of Yola would not attempt to interfere with me or compel my allegiance, but he would live in constant dread of my coming to exact vengeance for my father's murder and install myself as the acceptable Lamido of Yola. For well he knows how many of the Yola Sarakuna would join me as I approach that town.
He appealed to the British not to put him under the sphere of Yola or he would renounce his title and leave for Mecca with his family. Six years later in 1924, while Lamido Abba was dying of prostate cancer, Maigari deployed troops to surround Yola. The British did not interfere as they viewed Maigari as a favourable candidate for Lamido and as an ally who will protect British interests. After the passing of Abba, Maigari, and his troops, advanced towards the royal palace. He arrived just as the kingmakers were about to choose the new Lamido Adamawa. The kingmakers chose him as the 8th Lamido of Adamawa. He was the first Lamido of Adamawa from the royal House of Hamidu, the only royal House to not produce a Lamido prior to Maigari.[5] Lamido Maigari passed away after a protracted illness.[7]
After Maigari was made Lamido Adamawa, the position of District Head of Nassarawo was passed to his cousin Chiroma as none of his sons were of age. He was later dismissed and Dan Buram, a "bagman" who was a follower of Chiroma, was chosen to replace him. Later, Hamman Tukur was transferred to be the District Head of Nassarawo and also the Wakilin Chamba of the Chiefdoms comprising Gurum, Yebbi, Tolla and Sugu districts.[8][9]
References edit
- ^ a b Kirk-Greene, A. H. M. (Anthony Hamilton Millard) (1969). Adamawa past and present: an historical approach to the development of a northern Cameroons province. Internet Archive. London, Reprinted for the International African Institute by Dawsons. p. 145. ISBN 978-0-7129-0398-1.
- ^ a b [Great Britain] Colonial Office (1925). Reports [Great Britain] on Mandated Territories 1920–25 including Iraq 1920–22, 1922–23, 1923–24; Palestine 1923(x2), 1924(x2), 1920–1925; British Cameroons 1923, 1924; Tanganyika 1923, 1924; Togoland 1923, 1924; Miscellaneous reports. p. 3.
- ^ a b c d e f g Tukur, Mahmud Modibbo (2016-08-15). British Colonisation of Northern Nigeria, 1897–1914: A Reinterpretation of Colonial Sources. Amalion Publishing. pp. 77–78. ISBN 978-2-35926-048-9.
- ^ Abubakar, Saʹad (1977). The lāmīb̳e of Fombina : a political history of Adamawa, 1809-1901. Internet Archive. Zaria, [Nigeria] : Ahmadu Bello University Press. ISBN 978-978-125-011-8.
- ^ a b c Onukaba, Adinoyi Ojo (2013). Atiku – The Story Of Atiku Abubakar. pp. 17–24.
- ^ Tukur, Mahmud Modibbo (2016-08-15). British Colonisation of Northern Nigeria, 1897–1914: A Reinterpretation of Colonial Sources. Amalion Publishing. p. 429. ISBN 978-2-35926-048-9.
- ^ "Lamido Palace; Tourist Attractions In Adamawa State :: Nigeria Information & Guide". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
- ^ Fardon, Richard (2019-07-29). Between God, the Dead and the Wild: Chamba Interpretations of Ritual & Religion. Edinburgh University Press. p. 198. ISBN 978-1-4744-6814-5.
- ^ Olajide, Adeyemi (2022). "HISTORY OF FORMER NASSARAWO DISTRICT OLD JADA HEADQUARTERS". wap.org.