Biu
About
Biu is a city and a Local Government Area (LGA) in southern Borno State, Nigeria. The town is the administrative centre of the LGA, was once the capital of the Biu kingdom, and is now the capital of the Biu Emirate. It lies on the Biu Plateau at an average elevation of 626 metres. The region is semi-arid. Its inhabitants are mainly Babur and Bura people, along with Tera, Marghi, Mina and Fulani people. The local economy is mixed agricultural, based on herding and farming, with a small mining industry.
History
The name Biu was initially called Viu, which in Babur and Bura language means high. The Biu kingdom became established around 1670 in the reign of Mari Watila Tampta. In 1878 Mari Biya became the first Babur king to rule from Biu, and 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.
Source: Wikipedia: Biu, Nigeria
Key Facts
State
Borno State
Population
176,072 (2006)