Gombe, Nigeria

Gombe
LGA
Gombe
Coordinates: 10°17′N 11°10′E / 10.283°N 11.167°E
Country  Nigeria
State Gombe State
Area
 • Total 52 km2 (20 sq mi)
Population (2006 Census)
 • Total 280,000
Time zone WAT (UTC+1)
3-digit postal code prefix 760
ISO 3166 code NG.GO.GO

Gombe is a city in northeastern Nigeria (and a Local Government Area). It is the capital city of Gombe State and has an estimated population of 261,536.[1] The city is the headquarters of the Gombe Emirate, a traditional state that covers most of Gombe State.[2] Recent developments include an electrical generation operation forming the basis for the Dadin Kowa water project and the opening of the new Gombe Lawanti International Airport serving Gombe State.

Population

Gombe State is mainly populated by Fulani People or Fulbe, constituting more than half of the state population (more than 50%) Other minor ethnic groups include the Hausa, Bolewa, Tera, Tangale, Waja, Kanuri to mention a few.

The LGA has an area of 52 km² and a population of 268,000 at the 2006 census.

The postal code of the area is 760.[3]

Politics

The current Governor is Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo.

Transport

Gombe is served by Gombe Lawanti International Airport, and by a station on the eastern mainline of the national railway network and Gombe Line Terminal in mid-city. On Feb. 1, President Goodluck Jonathan announced that the Gombe -Kafancha-Kaduna intercity train services had been "rehabilitated", saying "the inauguration of the train services was crucial to the growth and development of the Gombe and other adjoining states."[4] "Minister of Transport, Idris Umar ... flagged off the Gombe-Kafanchan- Port Harcourt and Gombe- Kafanchan-Kaduna intercity train services."[5]

Culture and education

Gombe is home to Gombe State University. The modern Pantami Stadium has replaced the older Abubakar Umar Memorial Stadium, and is home to the Gombe United F.C.

Economy

In 2008 an agreement was reached "to set up anti-venom manufacturing plant in Kaltungo General Hospital in Gombe," and provide medical training for snakebite patients.[6] The Gombe State government ordered an additional N4 million in anti-venom for the hospital in 2009, due to a local increase in snakebites.[7]

Violence in 2014 and 2015

Gombe has been impacted by the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency in Nigeria.

On 22 December, 2014, a suicide bombing at a bus station in Gombe killed over 20 people.[8][9][10]

On 1 January 2015, a suicide bomber attacked a New Year's Eve service at a Gombe church, injuring several people.[11] On 14 January 2015, a suicide bomber killed two people and left 14 wounded at a Gombe mosque.[12]

On 2 February 2015, just minutes after a campaign rally by Nigerian President Goodluck Johnathan, an attack by a female suicide bomber left one person dead and eighteen injured.[13] Two blasts had occurred in the city the previous day, leaving five people dead.[14] Local residents "have set up checkpoints to defend Gombe" according to the BBC.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The World Gazetteer". Retrieved 2004-03-07.
  2. ↑ "Gombe State". Online Nigeria Daily News. Retrieved 2010-09-21.
  3. ↑ "Post Offices- with map of LGA". NIPOST. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  4. ↑ "Nigeria Completes Rehabilitation of Gombe-Kafancha-Kaduna Inter-City Train". Premium Times - AllAfrica. 2015-02-01. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  5. ↑ Danjuma Williams (2015-02-02). "Transport minister flags off Gombe-P’Harcourt train service". National Mirror. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  6. ↑ Aliyu M. Hamagam (2008-02-15). "Nigeria: UK, Echitab to Build Anti-Venom Plant in Gombe". Daily Trust - allAfrica.com. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  7. ↑ Segun Awofadeji (2009-09-23). "Nigeria: Gombe Orders N4 Million Anti-Snake Venom". This Day - allAfrica.com. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  8. ↑ Levinus Nwabughiogu & Susan Edeh (2014-12-23). "Bloody Monday: Bombers hit Gombe, Bauchi, kill 30". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  9. ↑ "Bomb killed 27 people and around 60 were wounded in Gombe". Reuters. December 22, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  10. ↑ Deadly blast at Nigeria bus station
  11. ↑ "Nigeria: Another bomber self-destruct outside Gombe Church". P.M. NEWS Nigeria. 2015-01-01. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  12. ↑ "Suicide bomber kills two, wounds 14 at mosque in northeastern Nigeria". Yahoo News Canada. 2015-01-13. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Nigeria elections: Blast hits presidential rally in Gombe". BBC News. 2015-02-02. Retrieved 2015-02-02.
  14. ↑ "Two blasts rock Nigeria's Gombe city, 5 dead: witnesses, source". AFP - Yahoo News. 2015-02-01. Retrieved 2015-02-03.

Coordinates: 10°17′N 11°10′E / 10.283°N 11.167°E