Dass, Nigeria: History
People began to settle in Dass as far back as the period before the jihad of Danfodiyo around the foot and on the Mbula hill. Most of the early settlers came in search of security, which they hid in caves and on the hilltop to avoid attack by their enemies. Later in the early part of the 19th century during the jihad of Shehu Danfodio, Jarawa people migrated to the area in search of security and respite. By the middle of the century they had settled at the foot of Mbula hill. The area began its administrative role a year before the amalgamation of Nigeria, when the colonial masters gave the area a third class chiefdom in 1913. It was given to the leader of the Jarawa known as Dukkurma who united the groups and ruled up to 1927. After his death, his son, Usman Maleka, who was educated in Bauchi elementary school, by the British colonial masters, succeeded his father the same year. During the reign of Usman Maleka the area demonstrated rapid growth and development which is the by-product of valued leadership and promotion of peace throughout the diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds of the people. Similarly during his reign the community was considered by the committee on local government creation in which in 1976 the area was given local government area with full administrative function, at the same time with the birth of the then Bauchi state (i.e.) 1976. A year later in 1977, with the death of Alh. Usman Maleka, his son, Alh. Bilyaminu Othman succeeded him. He consolodited on his father's developments, and promoted the chiefdom to 2nd class and 1st Class Emirate in 1983 and 1997 respectively. He reigned for 32 years. Alhajji Bilywminu died in September, 2019, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Alh Usman Bilyaminu Othman II, in the same year.