 The Sultanate of Damagaram- a vassal state of borno, Maradi and Ningi opened simultaneous fronts in an attempt to overwhelm kano.Aliyu's defense of Kano using Explosives, "Sango" Muskets and other Ottoman weaponry earned him the titles Mai Sango and Zaki.His battles during this period elevated him to the rank of Kano's other warrior Kings and Emirs.