Gombe Emirate was the headquarters of the Emir of Gombe, who, like the Emir of Bauchi, was one of seven Fulani Emirs imposed on an existing Hausa ruling structure by the great 19th-century Fulani Islamic reformer, Uthman dan Fodio. Built as a new town in the 1920s, Gombe was systematically laid out on a grid pattern. The original site of Gombe town was at a place called Gombe Aba, 60 miles to the north on the River Gongola, but it had been condemned as unhealthy due to its proximity to a swamp and so an entirely new town had been constructed. The baked mud houses were large and well built.
Last Man In: The End of Empire in Northern Nigeria
by John Hare
Publication date 2013.
Gombe Emirate comprises an area of 5,114 square miles, with a population of 159,831. Something approaching one fifth of these are Fulane the Bolewa, Terawa and Beri-beri are, as in order mentioned, the next most important tribes numerically speaking. (Vide ' Tribes, Bauchi Province.") The Emirate lies in the great bend of the Gongola River, which bounds it north and east, while on the west it marches with the Bauchi Emirate and to the south abuts on the Tangale Hills. The area is mostly a flat low sandstone plateau, lacking in water, most of the population living near the Gongola River.
For purposes of administration the Emirate is divided into four districts, Gombe, Nafada, Ako and Dukul. The Emirate and divisional headquarters have been moved from Gombe to Nafada (population 7,000), on the Gongola River, which is navigable as far as Nafada from July to October for barges, from early June to end of October for canoes. Steam craft have reached Gombe, but the passage is dangerous. Other big towns are Duku, Tongo, Gadam, and Debba Habe.
Buba Yero, the first Emir of Gombe, was by birth a fulane of the Tara clan, who came from Dilara. His father sent him to Kukawa to study, but he was captured by the Kerre-Kerre on the way thither, and spent three years as a slave at Potiskum, On obtaining his liberty he journeyed to Sokoto and spent his early years in study under Othman dan Fodio. When the Jihad commenced he took part in the capture of Zanfara and was given a flag, authorising a Jihad amongst the pagan states, the Sarkin Musulmi, giving him precedence over Bauchi, Katagum, Katsina, Zau-Zau, Zanfara and Hadeija.
This campaign was concurrent with that waged by his powerful neighbour, Yakubu, Emir of Bauchi, with whom he came into conflict at Beri-beri where he was defeated. Yakubu refused to allow him to extend his dominion west of the Gongola. Buba Yero, therefore, extended his conquests to the River Benue and deputed a lieutenant to rule over Muri town and the southern dominions as his vassal. This lieutenant was, however, subsequently killed by Buba Yero for failing to render obedience, but his son and successor succeeded in throwing off the yoke of Gombe. To the east of the Gongola, Buba Yero subdued the country as far as Adamawa, and then turned his attention to the north. It is related that he made a joint campaign with Messau, resulting in the capture of Birnin Bornu. In after years the Emirs of Gombe and Messau were constant allies. After this he moved to Nafada, and undertook the pacification of the Fika Bole, but met with considerable opposition. Kalam was broken later.
In 1824 he made his camp at a Filane settlement, where he founded Gombe town, and he lived to enjoy the fruits of his conquests till the mature age of seventy-nine. However, a large number of pagans subsequently revolted and successfully threw off the Filane yoke.
Notes on the tribes, provinces, emirates and states of the northern provinces of Nigeria; by Temple, O.; Temple, Charles Lindsay, 1871. Publication date 1919.
