Over 200 years ago, Dan Alhaji, Lazuru and Tudai villages in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State had solid walls and gates that once reportedly protected communities from invasion by external forces. The walls were built through the labours of slave men and women, as well as other people.
But when Daily Trust visited the three communities, it was observed that the once hard sand surfaces that served as the remnant of the walls were covered by shrubs. However, traces of the lost walls are still visible as they surround the communities.
A grandson of a former king of Dan Alhaji, the Magajin Gari, Abdullahi Mahmud, said the ancient wall was built during the reign of Dan Alhaji, the son of Abdullahi Abdu Jodoma, who founded the community.
Giving a historical account of Dan Alhaji, Mahmud said the community was established by a Fulani indigene from Katsina, Jodoma, on his way to Makkah for pilgrimage. According to Mahmud, on his way, Jodoma and his entourage first visited Sokoto to pay homage as custom demanded. In the course of their journey, they followed a route that led them to Dan Alhaji.
“They noticed that the area was blessed with a lot of lush vegetation and streams for their animals to feed and drink, so they stayed for one year. When they wanted to leave for Makkah the next year, Jodoma released a hen and a cock into the forest area and prayed to God to guard them. After returning from Hajj the following year, he came back and saw that the birds had multiplied, so he stayed there permanently. That’s how he founded Dan Alhaji,’’ Mahmud narrated.
He further narrated that after the death of Jodoma, enemies began to make attempts to penetrate the community, so his son, Dan Alhaji built the wall for protection.
In Tudai, Alhaji Salisu Lawal, the former Hakimin Tudai, who is the Dan Malikin Lere, told Daily Trust that what remained of the ancient wall in the community had been encroached by farmers and builders. He, however, added that the people had started preserving the remnants of the wall.
“The state of the wall is nothing to write home about because people have continued to farm, destroying it. Some of the farmers are not from this community, and as time went by, we noticed that they had encroached on what remained of the wall. But we have now warned against such activities,” Lawal said.
He said the Tudai wall was built over 280 years ago during the reign of Albarka, who came with his title from the Gwandu area. “They moved together as a community, with animals and slaves, fishermen and blacksmiths. He came around the Lazuru area with a lot of wealth, then they moved to Zaria to introduce themselves. They were accommodated, and they came back to settle here.”
“During that time, many wars were taking place, so a wall became necessary so that the entire community would not be vulnerable to attacks. When the wall was built, there were four gates, and guards were stationed there. Based on historical account, we learnt that there was a device with which the guards could see when the enemies were approaching,” he added.
He also said that according to oral history, the wall was built through the collective efforts of slaves, including women.
“The relevance of the wall is now for historical purpose even though it was initially built to protect the community against invasion. Although much of it has been lost, the wall is still relevant to our existence because it is not ordinary. Those who built it knew what they were doing because it stood for more than just physical protection. That is why we are doing everything possible now to prevent encroachments on it,” he further said.
Travelling on a motorcycle between Tudai and Lazuru, it took our correspondent 30 minutes to cross dry streams to speak with Alhaji Saidu Abdulkarim, the Dagachin Lazuru. He told Daily Trust that the Lazuru wall had four gates that served as a source of pride for the city and its warriors.
“There are two large rocks still standing in Lazuru. Our warriors used to climb the rocks to see their approaching enemies. One of the rocks has a cave, which was used as a hiding place for our people during the war.”
According to Abdulkarim, oral records estimate that the Lazuru wall was built some 200 years ago. He said the people of the community came together to build the wall to protect themselves from enemies.
“Although the wall has since collapsed, the remnants bring back a nostalgic feeling of how far our ancestors had gone to protect the people and the community. We won’t mind if the wall would be reconstructed. It reminds us so much about our past. Anyone who comes here and we tell him that this community had a wall will be surprised,’’ he said.
