Alwassa–Gwandu campaign

Alwassa–Gwandu campaign
	Part of the Jihad of Usman dan Fodio
Date	November 1805 (6 days)
Location	Valley of the Sokoto River, western Hausaland12°30′8″N 4°38′33″E / 12.50222°N 4.64250°E
Result	Coalition victory at Alwassa Jihadist victory at Gwandu; ;
Belligerents
Sokoto jihadists	Gobir Kebbi; Zamfarawa rebels; Tuareg groups; Contingents from other Hausa states; ;
Commanders and leaders
Waziri Abdullahi dan Fodio Sarkin Yaki Ali Jedo; Muhammed Bello; ;	Sarkin Gobir Yunfa Sarkin Kebbi Muhammadu Hodi; Tambari Agunbulu of Adar ; Usman Massa; ;
Units involved
Archers; Cavalry; ;	Heavy cavalry; Tuareg camel corps; ;
Casualties and losses
1,000+ killed (at Alwassa)	Unknown
	Location within Nigeria

The Alwassa–Gwandu campaign was a two-part military confrontation in November 1805 during the Jihad of Usman dan Fodio in present-day northwestern Nigeria. It was fought between the Sokoto jihadists, led by Abdullahi dan Fodio, Ali Jedo, and Muhammad Bello, and a broad coalition of Gobir, Kebbi, Zamfara, and allied Tuareg groups under Yunfa, Muhammadu Hodi, and the Tuareg chief Agunbulu.

The campaign opened with a battle at Alwassa, where the coalition decisively defeated the jihadists, inflicting heavy casualties. The jihadists retreated to their base at Gwandu, where they spent the next four days defending the lightly fortified town with the aid of the surrounding terrain. On the final day, a Thursday, the coalition launched a major assault, which failed due to the jihadists' effective use of archers and cavalry. Despite the jihadists narrowly avoiding complete annihilation, after the campaign, they immediately set out to consolidate their authority in western Hausaland, and gradually extended their influence over the entire region.