<p>"In this densely detailed and interpretatively nuanced study&comma; Mahmud Modibbo Tukur lays bare the very foundations of the colonial state in what is now northern Nigeria&period; This is a must read for anyone wanting to understand the foundations of contemporary Nigeria and how we came to be what we are&period;"–Prof&period; Abdul Raufu Mustapha&comma; U&period; of Oxford&comma; UK Author Tukur's analysis of official colonial records and sources constitutes a significant contribution to the literature on colonialism in Africa&comma; and to understanding the complexity of the Nigerian situation today&period; His work challenges fundamental assumptions and conclusions about European colonialism in Africa&comma; especially British colonialism in northern Nigeria&period; Contrary to the "pacification" and minimal violence argued by some scholars&comma; the study has exposed the violent and bloody nature of that occupation&period; Rather than the single story of "Indirect rule" or "abolishing slavery" and lifting the burden of precolonial taxation which others have argued&comma; this book has shown that British officials were very much in evidence&comma; imposed numerous and heavier taxes collected with great efficiency and ruthlessness&comma; and ignored the health and welfare of the people in famines and health epidemics which ravaged parts of northern Nigeria during the period&period; British economic and social policies&comma; such as blocking access to western education for the masses in most parts of northern Nigeria&comma; did not bring about development but its antithesis of retrogression and stagnation&period; &ast;&ast;&ast; "A successful counter-thesis&comma; the book is a definitive study for understanding colonial Nigeria&period; The book also contains a eulogy to its late author &lpar;d&period; 1988&rpar;&comma; a foreword that points to the violent and exploitative nature of British rule&comma; and an impressive introduction that sets the book within a broad historiographical canvas&comma; and that regards the totality of the contributions as 'pathbreaking&period;<&sol;p><p>Author&colon;&nbsp&semi;Mahmud Modibbo Tukur<&sol;p><p>Publisher&colon; Amalion Publishing<&sol;p>