ABSTRACT
There were Fulani in Zaria before the Fulani conquered it under Mallam Musa. It is said that when the Habe of Zazzau moved from Turunku to the present site of Zaria city, they found Fulani herding their cattle there. By 1804 there were several Fulani lineages settled at Zaria. Musa was with the Shehu when he defeated the Habe king of Gobir, Yunfa. In one legend Musa took part in the invasion of Kano before being appointed to conquer Zaria. Under Musa, the Fulani of Zaria carried their attacks as far south as Wukari and the Tiv country. The Fulani of Zazzau ruled over two southern vassals at Lapai and Lafia. Lafia lay to the north-east of Doma and near to Bagaji, another very minor vassal state of Zaria. Musa transferred Lafia to his neighbour Yakubu, the deputy of Dan Fodio who ruled Bauchi, as an act of solidarity.
