How the British invasion Ended the Sokoto Caliphate

The Sokoto caliphate was one of the largest empires in Africa. It was founded by Usman dan Fodio. Usman dan Fodio was a Fulani man. He studied law, theology, and philosophy in Agadez (Niger Republic). The story goes back all the way to when he used to teach more about the principles of Islam in the city of Gobir. He also used that platform to preach against the ills in society. This made him wildly popular, and this did not sit well with the King. King Yunfa of Gobir saw him as a threat. He tried severally to get Dan Fodio assassinated but failed. After several attempts to assassinate Usman Dan Fodio, the king decided to banish him. When He left, a lot of his followers went with him.

While in exile, Dan Fodio declared jihad on his former home. King Yanfa had sought the help of other Hausa states to fight Dan Fodio in 1804. With the joint forces from other Hause states, King Yanfa was winning at first, but Dan Fodio's forces grew in numbers still. In 1808, Dan Fodio and his forces killed King Yunfa of Gobir and conquered Kano and other Major city-states. With this, the military power of the Caliphate expanded.

The end came for Sokoto when the Europeans started exploring Africa. In 1903, Britain had taken over southern Nigeria and began plans to invade Sokoto. They wanted the north to be part of what would later be known as Nigeria as we know it today. The British General Frederick Lugard took advantage of the tribal wars and mistrust among the Emirs and pitted them against each other.

The British succeeded in their plan when the last Caliph, Muhammadu Attahiru I, was forced to a Mahdist hijra after fighting and lost to the British while defending Sokoto. Thousands of people also followed their Caliph which led to the depopulation of the empire. The now shattered caliphate conceded to British rule official  On March 13, 1903.  Fredrick Lugard abolished the Caliphate but retained the title Sultan as a symbolic position in the newly formed Northern Nigeria Protectorate. The British made Muhammadu Attahiru II the Sultan. This marked the end of the Sokoto Caliphate.

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