Kontagora
About
Kontagora is a major town on the south bank of the Kontagora River in north-west Niger State, Nigeria. It is the capital city of the Kontagora Emirate and is the seat of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Kontagora, with St Michael's Cathedral as the vicar's seat.
History
Kontagora was founded by Umaru Nagwamatse, who conquered a large amount of land owned by non-Muslim Kambaris. He set up Kontagora as the kingdom's capital in 1864 and became the first emir of Kontagora. Under his rule the emirate was greatly expanded. When his son Ibrahim Nagwamatse became emir in 1880, the emirate became notorious for slave-raids that left the area severely under-populated, and many villages were abandoned despite a state-sponsored re-population plan between 1949 and 1956. In 1899 Ibrahim captured the town of Birnin Gwari, prompting the emirate of Zaria to seek help from the British. After Ibrahim threatened the British base in Jebba, the British captured Kontagora city in 1901. When Ibrahim was reinstated as emir in 1903, his power was greatly reduced.
Source: Wikipedia: Kontagora
Key Facts
State
Niger State
Chairman
Alhaji shehu s pawa (sarkin pawan Mai Sudan)
Population
98763