Biu, Nigeria

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Coordinates: 10°36′40″N 12°11′42″E / 10.6111°N 12.195°E / 10.6111; 12.195

Biu
Biu
Biu shown within Nigeria
Coordinates: 10°36′40″N 12°11′42″E / 10.6111°N 12.195°E / 10.6111; 12.195
Country  Nigeria
State Borno State
Population 176,072 (2,006)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)

Biu is a town and a Local Government Area (LGA) in southern Borno State of Nigeria. The town is the administrative center of the LGA. The town was once the capital of the Biu kingdom, and is now capital of the Biu Emirate. Biu lies on the Biu Plateau at an average elevation of 626 meters.[1] The region is semi-arid.[2]

History

The Biu kingdom became established around 1670 in the reign of Mari Watila Tampta. King Mari Watirwa (r. 1793–1838), whose capital was near Biu at Kogu, defeated Fulani invaders from the Gombe Emirate to the west. In 1878 Mari Biya, became the first Bura king to rule from Biu. The emir's palace is now situated in the town.

With British rule, Biu division was created in 1918. Mai Ari Dogo was acknowledged as the first emir of Biu in 1920. The area became known as the Biu federation after 1957, when the districts of Shani and Askira were added to the emirate.[3] Maidalla Mustafa dan Muhammad (b. 1915) became Mai Biu, also styled Kuthli, in 1959.[4]

People

The inhabitants of the region are mainly Bura, Tera, Marghi, Mina and Fulani people.[3] Bura, Tera, Marghi and Mina are Biu–Mandara languages of the Chadic language group.[5]

Geography and economy

The LGA is mostly located in the northern Guinea savannah (NGA) agroecological zone,[6] with a small portion in the northeast, the Kimba area, lying in the dryer Sudan savannah zone.[7] The economy is mixed agricultural, based on herding cattle, goats, sheep, horses, and donkeys[3] and farming sorghum, millet, maize, cowpea, and cotton.[8] Agriculture consists mostly of small farms[6] using traditional methods.[9]

There is a small mining industry in Biu, with iron ore, gravel, magnesite, uranium, feldspar, topaz, mica, granite, aquamarine, nephelite, and salt being extracted.[8]

Communities

The Biu Local Government Area has a large number of communities in addition to Biu, which include:[7][10]

  • Balbaya
  • Buratai
  • Charenji
  • Chemi Moda
  • Dula
  • Filin Jirgi
  • Galdimare
  • Garundana

Gunda

  • Kabura
  • Kimba
  • Kirkidum
  • Kogu
  • Kukurpu
  • Kumari
  • Kwaya Tera
  • Maina Hari
  • Mandafuma
  • Mandagirau
  • Mangada
  • Mbulamile
  • Mirnga
  • Sabon Layi
  • Tum
  • Wakama
  • Wonka
  • Wuyo
  • Yamarkumi
  • Zara

Health

Malnutrition in southern Borno State is extensive. In 2005, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) set up an intensive care feeding center in Biu hospital, the main referral hospital for the region.[11] In October 2009 there was an outbreak of Cholera in the area, a disease that spreads through drinking contaminated water. About 600 people were rushed to the Biu General Hospital for diagnosis and treatment. The management of the hospital, in conjunction with the State Ministry of Health, decided to evacuate the patients to an isolated treatment camp.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Population of Biu, Nigeria". Monga Bay. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
  2. ↑ T. Kparmwang, I. E. Esu and V. O. Chude (12 September 1994). "Properties, classification and agricultural potential of basaltic soils in semi-arid Nigeria". Department of Soil Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. Retrieved 2009-10-0. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Biu (Nigeria)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
  4. ↑ "Traditional States of Nigeria". World Statesmen.org. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
  5. ↑ "Afro-Asiatic, Chadic, Biu–Mandara". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Amaza, P. S. et al (2007) Baseline socioeconomic survey report: agriculture in Borno State, Nigeria International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria, page 7, ISBN 978-131-315-3
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Annex 3: Communities covered by the socioeconomic baseline survey" Amaza, P. S. et al (2007) Baseline socioeconomic survey report: agriculture in Borno State, Nigeria International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria, page 7, ISBN 978-131-315-3
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "National Distribution of Raw Materials: Borno State: Biu" Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Federal Government of Nigeria; archived here by WebCite as of 7 June 2011
  9. ↑ Adekoya, Adegbenga Emmanuel and Babaleye, Taye (2009) "Consistency of technology adoption among farmers in Northern Nigeria" International Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment 7(3/4): pp. 457–460; abstract
  10. ↑ "Biu (administrative region)" Maplandia World Gazetteer
  11. ↑ "Malnutrition in Northern Nigeria: "Without medical support hundreds of children might die."". Doctors Without Borders. August 4, 2005. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
  12. ↑ "Cholera kills 113 people in Nigeria's Borno State". China View. 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 


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