Yobe State came into being on 27 August 1991. It was carved out of the old Borno State by the Babangida administration. Yobe State was created because the old Borno State was one of Nigeria’s largest states in terms of land area and was therefore considered to be too large for easy administration and meaningful development. Ethnic rivalries within the old Borno State also contributed to the decision.

On 14 May 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Yobe State along with neighboring Borno State and Adamawa State, due to the activities of the terrorist network Boko Haram. Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram, was born in Shekau village of Yobe.