why jihads was not extended to the forest regions
- when Adama died in 1847, he was succeeded by his son Muhammed Lawal and Zubeira respectively. But they were not of his caliber and were not determined and efficient Warriors. With the attitude of the Fulbe it was difficult to extend the jihadas to the forest region a.g. Mai Bukar recaptured Mandara and it was never part of Adamas with the capital at Yola just because of the poor behaviour of the Fulbes. This means that to maintain ordar in their ranks required a very tactful and competent
leader. These were qualities Adama’s successor did not have.
- The Fulani jihadists were interested in the grasslands of the Sudan for the grazing land for their cattles. The forest region of Cameroon had no grazing land and since most of these Fulani depended on cattle farming, they saw no need extending the jihads to the forest region.
- The forest was a disturbing factor to the jihadists. The thick forest did not only make movement difficult for them but alao led to the fear of wild animals, the malaria carrying mosquitoes and the tse-tse flies which were hostile to the horses and cattle of the jihadists. The jihad horse raiders could not perform well in the forest. But in the north the jihads were easily carried out because of the grassland vegetation which facilitated movement and avoided the risk of wild animals and insects like mosquitoes and the tse-tse flies.
- The jihadists in north Cameroon had little knowledge of the forest region Cameroon as well as had no close relations with this area. For this reason, it was extremely very diffieult to extend the jihads to this region. On the other hand the close connections Northern Cameroon and Northern Nigeria were very important in the history of the jihads in Northern Cameroon. Both have been parts of the Kanem-Borm Empire, a link which contributed to strong cultural and religious ties. Therefore it was not a surprise that the jihads were extended to Northern Cameroon since they were launched in the Hauea states of Northern Nigeria by Dan Fadio.
- By the time the jihads had gained grounds in Northern Cameroon, Christianity was also taking a foothold in the forest rogion. Therefore the jihadists discovered that it was not an easy task to overcome the Christian population of the south to implant Islam. As result, the jihads were limited to the Northern part of the country.
- By 1847 when Adama died, a greater part of the objectives of the jihadists had already been attained. Further extenaion of the jihads into the forest region appear unnecessary
- Resistance from Bamum, led by King Mbwe-Mbwe and the Gbaya groups also stopped the southward movement of the jihadists. King Mbwe-Mbwe dug trenches and made fortifications around town which rendered movement very dificult for the fulani horses.
https://cameroongcerevision.com/islam-in-cameroon/
