In 1804, Yunfa of Gobir realized the growing threat that his former teacher, Fulani Islamic reformer Usman dan Fodio, posed to the Hausa city-states.
Meanwhile, Usman's followers spread word of a jihad against the Hausa rulers, attracting a number of Fulani nomads to their cause, and declared Yunfa an infidel.
Yunfa, possessing an army composed of Hausa warriors and Tuareg allies, defeated dan Fodio's forces, which lost more than 2,000 to 3,000 men, 200 of whom were said to have been Hafiz (people who know the Quran by heart).
These Tuaregs allied with Yunfa as they did not think the Fulbe jihadists could win against Gobir and they wanted to continue using these valleys for winter grazing.
[5] However, the Gobir victory proved to be short-lived, as Uthman's forces seized Kebbi and Gwandu the following year, ensuring the survival and growth of their party.