Biu Emirate


The Biu Emirate is a traditional state based in Biu in Borno State, Nigeria. Prior to 1920 it was referred to as the Biu Kingdom. The current ruler is Maidalla Mustafa dan Aliyu who became Mai Biu, also styled Kuthli, in 1959.

History

The rulers of Biu are numbered from Abdullahi, later known as Yamta-ra-Wala or Yamta the Great, who established his rule about 1535. Around 1670, in the reign of Mari Watila Tampta, it became known as a kingdom.
The main ethnic group is the Babur/Bura people, related to the Kanuri people.
The founder was said to have come from elsewhere, captured the main town in the area, then founded a new capital in Dlimbur, which is now an archaeological site. His descendants formed two rival dynasties, one at Kogu and the other in nearby Mandaragirau.
King Mari Watirwa of Kogu defeated Fulani invaders from the Gombe Emirate to the west. In 1878 Mari Biya, became the first Bura king to rule from Biu. 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.
The Biu Emirate includes the Biu, Hawul, Kwaya Kusar and Bayo local government areas.
The Biu Emirate has by convention always produced the Deputy Governor of Borno State, representing the south of the state.
Until recently, the Biu Emirate was one of three in Borno State, the others being the Borno Emirate and the Dikwa Emirate.
In March 2010 the Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff split the old Dikwa Emirate into the new Bama and Dikwa Emirates.
This triggered petitions from the people of Hawul, Kwaya Kusar and Bayo to also have separate chiefdoms, which the governor had stated he would do "if the need arises".

Rulers

Mai Biu, also styled Kuthli, were:
StartEndRulerNotes
c. 1740Mari Kopchiaka Mari Kwabchi
c. 1750Di Forma dan Mari Kopchison of Mari Kopchi
c. 1760Garga Moda dan Mari Kopchibrother of Di Forma
c. 1770Dawi Moda son of Di Forma
c. 1780Di Biya dan Di Modason of Dawi Moda
1783Di Rawa dan Di Biyason of Di Biya
17831793Garga Kopchi dan Di Biya brother of Di Rawa
17931838Mari Watirwa dan Di Rawa son of Di Rawa
18381873Ari Paskur dan Mari Watirwa son of Mari Watirwa
18731891Mari Biya dan Ari Paskur son of Ari Paskur
18911908Garga Kwomting dan Mari Biya son of Mari Biya
19081920Ari I Dogo dan Garga Kwomting son of Garga Kwomting

Emirs were:
StartEndRulerNotes
19201935Ari I Dogo dan Garga Kwomting -
19351951Ari II Gurgur dan Garga Kwomting brother of Ari I
19511959Muhammad `Aliyu dan Ari Dogo son of Ari I
19591989Maidalla Mustafa dan Muhammad Aliyu son of Muhammad `Aliyu
District Head of Kwaya territory before his accession
June 1989Mai Umar Mustapha Aliyuson of Maidalla Mustafa

Local Government Areas in Biu Emirate

Biu Emirate covers four Local Government Areas: