 In the 1670s the Kwararafa assaulted Katsina, sacked Zaria and launched an invasion of Bornu.Bornu sources recount Kwararafa striking towards the capital of Ngasargamu and being turned aside in a great battle by "Mai" Ali bin Umar.Katsina chronicler Dan Marina recounts the Mai Ali killing, wounding and capturing many Kwararafa and sending three captives back to their leader, with their ears severed and hung around their necks.