An ancient Hausa state, centered in what is now Maradi province of Niger. It was from the area of Gobir that the Fulani Jihad erupted, creating the Fulani states in northern and central Nigeria during the 19th century. At the end of the 18th century, a Muslim cleric of Fulani origin, Usman dan Fodio, established a religious training center in Gobir with the initial support of the Hausa King. Alarmed, however, by the schools growing autonomy and influence, the King attempted to rein it in, with the result that Usman resisted and ultimately declared Jihad, Holy War, on the Hausa. Ceding political and military control of the new empire to his two sons, Muhammad Bello at Sokoto and Abdullah at Gwandu, Usman created a puritanistic Muslim presence in the central Niger River basin.