Kontagora

Kontagora
LGAand town
Nickname: KNT
Kontagora
Coordinates:10°24′N5°28′E
Country	Nigeria
State	Niger State
Government
• Local Government Chairman and the Head of the Local Government Council	Alhaji shehu s pawa (sarkin pawan Mai Sudan)
Population (2006)
• Total	98,763
Time zone	UTC+1(WAT)

Kontagorais a major town on the south bank of theKontagora Riverin north-westNiger State,Nigeria.It is the capital city of theKontagora Emirate. The former Niger state governor,Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bellohails from Kontagora. On December 15, 1995, the Roman CatholicApostolic Vicariate of Kontagorawas established here. St Michael's Cathedral is the seat of the apostolic vicar.

History

Kontagora was founded byUmaru Nagwamatse,who after conquering a large amount of land owned by non-Muslim Kambaris. Umaru then set up Kontagora as the kingdom’s capital in 1864, making himself the first emir of Kontagora. Throughout Umaru’s rule, he greatly expanded the emirate. When his sonIbrahim Nagwamatsebecame emir in 1880, the emirates became notorious for slave-raids that left the area severely under-populated. This left the area with many abandoned villages, despite a state sponsored re-populated plan in between 1949-56. In 1899, Ibrahim captured the town ofBirnin Gwari,causing the emirate ofZariato get help from the British. Ibrahim threatened the British base inJebba,causing the British to capture Kontagora city in 1901. When Ibrahim was reinstated as emir in 1903, his power was greatly reduced.

Climate

The temperature in the region fluctuates year-round, ranging from 58°F to 97°F, with occasional dips below 53°F or above 103°F.

External links

• Map from MSN Encarta