Ningi, Nigeria | |
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Location in Nigeria | |
Coordinates: 11°4′N 9°34′E / 11.067°N 9.567°ECoordinates: 11°4′N 9°34′E / 11.067°N 9.567°E | |
Country | Nigeria |
State | Bauchi State |
Ningi is a town, a local government area, and an emirate in Bauchi State, Nigeria. The Ningi emirate comprises two local government areas, Ningi and Warji, with a combined area of 5,250 km2 and a population of 501,912 according to the 2006 Census. The Ningi local government area covers an area of 4,625 km2 with a population of 387,192 at the 2006 Census. The area is inhabited mostly by Fa,awa, Warjawa, Duwa, Ningawa and Fulani people. Yunusa Mohammadu Danyaya is the current Emir of Ningi.
Ningi state was founded by an enclave of Islamic scholars known as the Mallams in the 18th century (around 1827) under the leadership of Hamza. Ningi leaders were hitherto called Mallams until early the 19th century. Fa,awa are the first tribe to gain the benefit of western education, but the remaining tribe came to ningi as visitors and they remain due to the abundant food item provided by Fa,awa people. except Marawa which are origin of ningi land.
According to legend, Hamza migrated with forty other Mallams and their families from Tsakuwar Kano, in the present day Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area of Kano State, in 1827. They settled eastward at Mara in the present day's divided into two some are in Butu Kudu-Yamma district of Ningi and lame district of the Toro, Nigeria local government area in Bauchi State. The Mallams were protesting the payment of a tax called Kudin Kasa in the Kano Emirate during the reign of Sarkin Kano Mohammed Bello. While at Mara, Sheikh Hamza used his Islamic knowledge and dexterity to convince the local people under their leader called Dandaura to break their allegiance of the Amanah Agreement; entered into with the Fulani Emirate in which they paid tribute (jizya) to the leader. By 1830, in order to change the status quo, Hamza had to crush Dandaura and remain the undisputed leader. He immediately brought all the neighboring stateless societies, especially the Butawa, Fa'awa, Warjawa, Kudawa, Sirawa, under his control. This act became a threat to the peace and security of the neighboring emirates of Bauchi, Kano, and Zaria. As a result, Bauchi and Kano combined their forces and launched an attack on Hamza.
With the death of Hamza, the people suffered from the loss but remained organized and selected Ahmadu in 1850 to be their leader. He reigned for five years and died in 1855. The people chose Hamza's son-in-law, Abubakar Danmaje, as the next leader. Unlike his predecessors, Danmaje started an expansionist policy and devised very effective raiding strategies. He raided far and wide to Kano, Hadejia, Katagum, Jamare, Gombe, Zaria, Birnin Gwari, Kontagora, Wukari, and even Illorin. Danmaje found it necessary to raid so as to recruit slaves into his ranks. The result was the creation of a strong, formidable, and insurmountable force with commanded by him. This force was known as Mai Tabaryar Mashi.