[1] Before the Fulani jihad the Bauchi region was inhabited by a large number of small tribes, some of whom spoke languages related to Hausa, and some of whom were Muslims.

The province of Bauchi was conquered between 1809 and 1818 by jihadists inspired by Usman dan Fodio's jihad in Sokoto and were led by a Hausa Islamic scholar, Yakubu.

After repeated complaints from influential figures in Bauchi, his successor Umaru bin Ali ordered Usman to Sokoto and formerly dethroned and detained him there.

He rehabilitated the sons and brothers of those who had suffered a loss of position or property, welcomed back refugees who had fled, and secured the release of those enslaved by the Missau forces.

However, this approach faced opposition from defiant district chiefs, resulting in their swift dismissal if they resisted Umaru's directives.

Umaru's ground for this attempt was that the chief refused to hand over to him for enslavement a group of families who had migrated to Gwaram from Fali when they were still not Muslims.

Lawal's father-in-law, the Emir of Jama'are, successfully persuaded him to capitulate arguing that the worst that could happen was deposition and the loss of property.

Umaru swiftly executed Lawal despite receiving orders from Sarkin Musulmi Abdur Rahman Atiku to withdraw from Gwaram and pardon the chief.