Billiri (or Biliri) is one of the 11 Local Government Areas of Gombe State, Nigeria bordered to the north by Akko Local Government Area, south and east by Shongo, andnorthe-East by Kaltungo Local Government Area. It is a historical settlement of the Tangales located South of Gombe[1] It has an area of 737 km2 and a population of 202,144 at the 2006 census. Apart from the Tangale language, Fulfulde and Hausa are commonly spoken[1] The postal code of the area is 771.[2]

Billiri
LGA and town
Motto: 
Kal Kwi ka Amdo
Billiri is located in Nigeria
Billiri
Billiri
Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 9°50′N 11°09′E / 9.833°N 11.150°E / 9.833; 11.150
Country Nigeria
StateGombe State
HeadquartersBilliri Town
Government
 • TypeCouncil government
 • Local Government Chairman and the Head of the Local Government CouncilEgla Idris
Area
 • Total
737 km2 (285 sq mi)
Population
 (2006 census)
 • Total
252,544
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)
3-digit postal code prefix
771
ISO 3166 codeNG.GO.BI
Map
Billiri hill located in Billiri local government Area

Most of the inhabitants of Billiri are Christians while Muslims form the largest minority.[3][1] The dominant tribe is Tangale which means "Tangle".

The traditional ruler of the Local Government Area is called the "Mai Tangle".[4] The death of the Mai Tangale in 2020 brought about communal unrest in the Biliri community due to the delay in reinstating a new Mai Tangale.[3][5]

History

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The Tangale people claimed to have emerged as the settlers of Billiri from a migration journey through Borno State.They had to move from places such as Sanum kede and Kupto due to tribal wars. Tangaltong, one of the 7 clans in Tangale is where billiri as well as Bare and Kantali resided.[6] The Tangale language is a west chadic language.

Mai Tangale

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The traditional ruler of the Tangale Tribe is addressed as Mai Tangale.[4] Following the death of the former King, Mallam Danladi Maiyamba was elected as the new Mai Tangale in the year 2021.[7]

The Billiri Crisis

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In March 2021, Danladi Sanusi-Maiyamba was announced by the Gombe State government as the new Mai Tangale in Billiri following the death of Abdu Buba Maisharu II, the immediate past Mai of Tangale Kingdom who died in January 2021. The announcement erupted violence and protests in Billiri over the claim that Mohammad Inuwa Yahaya, the Governor of the State, did not go with the candidate selected by the kingmakers. The erupted concerns and protests led to violence that claimed lives and properties.

[8][1][9]

Towns & Villages

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The towns and villages in Billiri Local Government Area include:[10]

  1. Billiri-Tangale
  2. Ayaba
  3. Baganje
  4. Bare
  5. Billiri
  6. Kalmai
  7. Kulkul
  8. Labepit
  9. Lakalkal
  10. Lamugu
  11. Landongor
  12. Pokuli
  13. Lanshi daji
  14. Popandi
  15. Sabon layi
  16. Sansani (Lakumana)
  17. Pandinkude
  18. Pandi kamio
  19. Pokwangli
  20. Shela
  21. Sikirit
  22. Tal
  23. Tanglang
  24. Todi
  25. Tudu kwaya[11]

Wards/Polling units

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There are 10 wards in Billiri local government and they are:[12][13]

  1. Bangaje North
  2. Bangaje South
  3. Bare
  4. Billiri North
  5. Billiri South
  6. Kalmai
  7. Todi
  8. Tudu Kwaya
  9. Tal
  10. Tanglang

Religion

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There are two main Religions practice in Billiri which are;

Schools

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They include:

  • ECWA Secondary School Billiri
  • Sambo Memorial Secondary School
  • Central Primary School
  • Paulo Academy Billiri
  • Pajuma Academy Kentengereng Billiri
  • Government Day Secondary School Amtawlam
  • Federal Government College Billiri (FGC) [14]
  • Government Sciences Secondary School Billiri[15]
  • College of Education Billiri

Food

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Soya beans is one of the common foods in Billiri with about six prominent markets according to a study[16]

Festivals

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  • One of the major festival in the Tangale land is the "Pishi Tangle Day": The Pishi Tangle bring together all the Tangle people in Gombe state and around the world to celebrate culture, heritage, and promote the peaceful co-existence of the Tangale people regardless of their difference, in the interest of the Tangale land and cultural heritage.
  • Bai "Dog meat" Festival[17]

Market

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Billiri market is on Saturday of every week, and it is recognized for the selling of agricultural products like cowpea, soya beans, beans, and other household items. The Biliri market is primarily regarded as a large market for diverse trading.[18]

Climate

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Mai Tangle Hill (Pandi Tangle)


The Billiri local government area in Gombe has the wet season is oppressive and overcast, the dry season is partly cloudy, and it is hot year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 56 °F to 98 °F and is rarely below 52 °F or above 103 °F [19][20][21][22]

Temperatures in Billiri on average, both high and low

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  • With an average daily high temperature of 95 °F, the hot season lasts for 2.3 months, from 11 February to 21 April. With an average high of 95 °F and low of 73 °F, April is the hottest month of the year in Billiri.[19]
  • From 2 July to 14 October, the cool season, which has an average daily high temperature below 84 °F, lasts for 3.4 months. With an average low of 57 °F and a high of 88 °F, December is the coldest month of the year in Billiri.[19]

The Billiri Cloud

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Over the course of the year, there is a substantial seasonal change in the average percentage of sky that is covered by clouds in Billiri.

In Billiri, the clearer season starts about 5 November and lasts for 4.0 months, finishing around 5 March.[19]

In Billiri, January is the clearest month of the year, with a 55% average percentage of clear, mostly clear, or partly overcast skies.[19]

Around 5 March, the year's cloudier period starts, and it lasts for 8.0 months, ending around 5 November.[19]

May is the cloudiest month of the year in Billiri, with 79% of the time experiencing overcast or mostly cloudy skies on average.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "SPECIAL REPORT: The true story of fatal religious crisis in Billiri, a peaceful Gombe community". 11 December 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Post Offices- with map of LGA". NIPOST. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Mai Tangale: How selection of traditional ruler shattered peace in Gombe community". Punch Newspapers. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b Yaya, Haruna Gimba (3 March 2021). "11 Things to know about Sanusi Maiyamba, the new Mai Tangale". Daily Trust. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Billiri crisis: Gombe govt compensates 554 victims with N591m". Tribune Online. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Tangale History". kalkwi.tripod.com. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Gombe gov appoints Maiyamba as Mai Tangale". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Gombe inaugurates 10-member committee to probe Billiri crisis". 19 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Curbing the rising trends of inter-communal clashes in Gombe State". Daily Trust. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  10. ^ places (1 January 1970). "Towns & Villages in Billiri « Gombe State « Nigeria". Towns & Villages. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Billiri, Gombe State | Nigeria Directory, A List of Nigerian Businesses, Organisations, Firms and Companies | Nigeria Yellow Pages". www.directory.org.ng. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Wards in Billiri Local Government Area". www.manpower.com.ng. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  13. ^ Nigeria, Media (24 April 2018). "Billiri L.G.A Polling Units/Wards". Media Nigeria. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Federal Government College, Billiri, Gombe". Hotels.ng Places. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Secondary Schools in Billiri, Gombe State". www.manpower.com.ng. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  16. ^ administrator. "ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SOYBEANS MARKETING IN BILLIRI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA". managementjournal.usamv.ro. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  17. ^ Webmaster (9 January 2010). "Gombe: Discovering treasures of Pissi Tangale". Daily Trust. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  18. ^ CIfromRED (22 June 2021). "The 7 best markets to visit in Gombe". Culture Intelligence from RED. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g "Billiri Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Nigeria) - Weather Spark". weatherspark.com. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  20. ^ "Weather in Billiri - accurate and detailed weather forecast in Billiri for today, tomorrow and week. Billiri, Gombe, Nigeria". meteotrend.com. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  21. ^ Morel, Emilien. "Weather Billiri Gombe Nigeria". Weather Avenue. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  22. ^ "Weather in Billiri, Gombe State, Nigeria | Tomorrow.io". Tomorrow.io Weather. Retrieved 9 July 2023.