Dukku: History
The history of Dukku started in the 17th century when Arɗo Sammbo, a leader of Fulani clan and his people with their cattle migrated from Fuuta Jallon in Guinea and settled in the present location. Another oral tradition says that the head of the Fulbe was Arɗo Almoodo or Almuudo.
Before they finally settled in Dukku, being herders, they wandered around in search of pasture for their animals. They first inhabited in a settlement, according to oral tradition called Kamanei. But they didn't last there because of the tyranny of the king of Kamanei who had a randy male child that would go first to every bride on her bridal night. This custom didn't augur well with the Fulani who settled there, especially one of Arɗo Sambo's son, Yero Nanaro who took an oath that he would slay the prince when the latter came to his bride on their first night. And Yero lived to his promise by slaughtering the prince when he came to their bridal night.
This incident forced Arɗo Sammbo and his people to spontaneously leave Kamanei on that night and moved further south, nonstop for weeks until they got to a settlement in Bauchi State, where they divided into three, with one following Arɗo Sammbo or Almuudo moving west until they got to a place called Lumpaaso, some few miles away from present Dukku, at the bank of Gongola River, one of the tributaries of River Benue under the territory of a Bolewa Chief of Kalam named Moi Duja.
The Chief of Kalam, Moi Duja accorded them great hospitality by allowing them to settle in his territory. But no sooner had they settled in Lumpaaso than they realized that the place was not conducive for them with their animals as it was very close to the river which makes it difficult for cattle grazing. Thus they complained to the chief who in turned ordered one of his palace sentinels, Madaki Dishe, to show them a better and more convenient place in his territory, which is the present settlement of Dukku.
The name Dukku is a Fulfulde word. The town name was initially Dukku ƴori, a combination of Fulfulde word, Dukku (a command word for erecting a pole to which a cow is tethered) and Bolewa word, ƴori (it is okay), but later shortened to Dukku for convenience.
The town is the headquarters of Dukku Emirate created out of Gombe Emirate by the first civilian governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Abubakar Habu Hashidu in 2001