BabatuorBaba Ato, was the Zarma military leader and jihadi warlord over the Zabarma Emirate in the late 19th century. Babatu originated in Indougou (N'Dougou) in what is today the nation of Niger. Babatu became the ruler of the Zabarima emirate in 1878 after the death of the former ruler, Gazari.[1] He was a slaver and fought against Sandema warriors.[2]
In 1887 his forces raided Wa the capital of the Kingdom of Wala and caused much of the population to flee.[3]
According to historians, Babatu was born in 1850 and began his expeditions in the 1880s.[4] He wore tribal marks which he created himself. He also expected soldiers and slaves to wear uniform marks with their leaders. He thought it was necessary. He was Muslim but it did not prevent him from attacking other Muslims.[5]
According to oral traditions and written sources, Babatu carried out many attacks on some Builsa villages such as:
He suffered a number of defeats as his power began to decline and also because of the influence in Northern Ghana. He fled to a town called Yendi and after to a town in present-day Togo. He died from a spider bite in 1907.[7][4]
