Yerima's father, Hamidu bin Modibbo Adama, administered a significant swath of land primarily inhabited by Chamba and Verre peoples, establishing Nyibango (also known as Hibango), about 30 miles south west of Yola, as its administrative center.
[3]: 77–78 After Lamido Lawal's death in 1872, the primary contenders to succeed him were Hamidu and Sanda, both sons of Modibbo Adama, the emirate's founder.
However, the Yola Saraki'en (aristocracy) chose to endorse the younger Umaru Sanda for succession, presenting him to Sultan Abubakar-na-Rabah of Sokoto.
[5] When Germany and Britain colonised the region in the early 20th-century, only a small portion of Yerima's domain, including Nyibango, fell under British control, while the rest came under German rule in Kamerun.
Using machine guns, Dominik's army killed four hundred and twenty-four Sikirris ('those vowed to die') of Lamdo Ahmadu of Marua.
[1]: 58–63 [3]: 404 Upon returning to Nyibango and seeing what remained of his father's territory, Maigari left for the 'German' side and was recognised as the ruler by the local population.
This move alienated Maigari from the British, who accused him of "coercing Fulanis and pagans under him to cross the border against their will" and of slave raiding and stealing.
G. N. Barclay, the British Resident at Yola, issued an arrest warrant for Maigari and dispatched mounted troops to find and abduct him.
However, during the night, Maigari killed four soldiers and escaped with their heads to Yola where he presented them to the Resident, who initially placed him under house arrest but later restored him to his fief in Nassarawo.
He regularly refused orders from Yola which frustrated the colonial administrators but they respected his competence describing him as "the most important and far the ablest of the District Heads".
The colonial Officer who translated one of his letters to the Governor "admired his strong personality and administrative capabilities" and suggested he could be appointed Lamido Adamawa.
Maigari wrote to the regional Governor:My father died fighting like an old lion among a pack of wild dogs; they brought his Fez, his Gown and his Praying beads to (Lamido) Abba in Yola.
[6] After Maigari was made Lamido Adamawa, the position of District Head of Nassarawo was passed to his cousin Chiroma as none of his sons were of age.