Biu (Nigeria)
| Biu | |
|---|---|
 Biu
|
|
| Coordinates: 10°36′40″N 12°11′42″E / 10.6111°N 12.195°E | |
| Country |
 Nigeria
|
| State | Borno State |
| Population | 176,072 (2,006) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
Coordinates: 10°36′40″N 12°11′42″E / 10.6111°N 12.195°E
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. The region is semi-arid.
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 Babur king to rule from Biu. The name of Biu was initially called Viu which in Babur and Bura Language means high.?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. Maidalla Mustafa dan Muhammad (b. 1915) became Mai Biu, also styled Kuthli, in 1959.
The inhabitants of the region are mainly Pabir known as the "Babur", Bura, Tera, Marghi, Mina and Fulani people. Babur, Bura, Tera, Marghi and Mina are Biu–Mandara languages of the Chadic language group.
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