KATAGUM, formerly a sub-province of the province of Kano, Northern Nigeria, since 1926 divided between Kano and Bauchi provinces. It occupies a north central position between Kano and Bornu. In this region are several small but ancient Mohammedan emirates—Katagum, Misau, Jamaari (these three are now in Bauchi province), Gumel, Hadeija, Kazaure and Daura (in Kano province), with a fringe of Bedde pagans on its eastern frontier towards Bornu, and other pagans on the south towards Bauchi.
In ancient times this region formed the debatable country between Bornu and the Hausa states. Though Mohammedan it resisted the Fula invasion. Its northern emirates were for a long time subject to Bornu, and its customs are nearly assimilated to those of Bornu. Katagum and the other emirates were taken under administrative control by the British in Oct. 1903.
Hadeija, a commercial centre of note, was an old Habe town and its name, an evident corruption of Khadija, the name of the celebrated wife and first convert of Mohammed, is a strong pre sumption of the incorrectness of the Fula claim to have introduced Islam to its inhabitants. The ruling dynasty of Hadeija was, how ever, overthrown by Fula usurpation towards the end of the 18th century, and the Fula ruler received a flag and a blessing from Dan Fodio at the beginning of his sacred war in the opening years of the 19th century. Nevertheless the habit of independence being
strong in the town of Hadeija the little emirate held its own against Sokoto, Bornu and all comers, its boast being that it had never been conquered. It had made nominal submission to the British in 1903, but the emir's attitude became, in the spring of 1906, openly antagonistic to the British and a military expedition was sent against him. The emir with his disaffected chiefs made a plucky stand but after five hours' street fighting the town was reduced. The emir and three of his sons were killed, and a new emir, the rightful heir to the throne, was appointed. The offices of the war chiefs in Hadeija were abolished and 15o yards of the town wall were broken down. For some years a military force was stationed in the town, but its retention was found unnecessary. In 1929 Hadeija was placed in railway communication with Kano and the ports of Nigeria. (See NIGERIA.)