It was established in 1901 at the start of the colonial period after the Bornu empire had been partitioned between the British, French and Germans.

The old Bornu Empire, collapsed in 1893 when the Shuwa Arab Rabeh Zubayr ibn Fadl Allah seized power and transferred the capital to Dikwa.

In 1901 they replaced him by his brother Umar Abubakar Garbai, ancestor of the current Emirs of Borno.

[2] The Germans installed Abubakar's brother, Shehu Sanda Mandara, in his place in Dikwa.

[5] Rulers of the Dikwa emirate, with the title of "Shehu", were:[2][6] February 1 Alhaji Abba Jato Umar b.