Borno is a state in the North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is the only Nigerian state to border up to three countries. Borno State as a territory has been inhabited for centuries by various ethnic groups.
Historical Background
From the 700s, what is now Borno State was within the territory of the Kanem Empire, an empire spanning from modern-day southern Libya (Fezzan) south through most of now-Chad into modern-day Borno State. In the late 1300s, the Kanem Empire was forced to move after unsuccessful wars, becoming the Bornu Empire before regaining strength and ruling the wider area for the next 500 years. It was not until the early 1800s when the Fulani jihad significantly weakened the Empire, that Bornu began to decline.
Much of modern-day southern Borno State was seized in the wars and incorporated into the Adamawa Emirate under the Sokoto Caliphate. About 80 years later, Rabih az-Zubayr, a Sudanese warlord, conquered the Empire and ruled until he was killed by French forces in the 1900 Battle of Kousséri.
The Adamawa Emirate was also defeated by colonial powers, losing the Adamawa Wars to Germany and the British Empire. The British-controlled area was incorporated into the Northern Nigeria Protectorate which later merged into British Nigeria before becoming independent as Nigeria in 1960. The German-controlled area (territory along the modern-day border with Cameroon) formed Deutsch-Bornu as a part of German Kamerun until allied forces invaded and occupied Kamerun during the Kamerun campaign of World War I.
After the war, what is now the eastern periphery of Borno State became a part of the Northern Cameroons within the British Cameroons until 1961, when a referendum led to a merger with Nigeria. Originally, modern-day Borno State was a part of the post-independence Northern Region until 1967 when the region was split and the area became part of the North-Eastern State. After the North-Eastern State was split, Borno State was formed on 3 February 1976 alongside ten other states. Fifteen years after statehood, a group of LGAs in the state's west was broken off to form the new Yobe State.
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Geography and Demographics
It is bordered by Yobe to the west, Gombe to the southwest, and Adamawa to the south while its eastern border forms part of the national border with Cameroon. Its northern border forms part of the national border with Niger and its northeastern border forms all of the national border with Chad.
It takes its name from the historic emirate of Borno, with the emirate's old capital of Maiduguri serving as the capital city of Borno State. Borno is the second largest in area of the 36 states, only behind Niger State. Despite its size, the state is the eleventh most populous with an estimated population of about 5.86 million as of 2016.
Geographically, the state is divided between the semi-desert Sahelian savanna in the north and the West Sudanian savanna in the centre and south with a part of the montane Mandara Plateau in the southeast. In the far northeast of the state is the Nigerian portion of Lake Chad and the Lake Chad flooded savanna ecoregion; the lake is fed by the Yobe River which forms the state's border with Niger until it reaches the lakebed.
In the centre of the state is part of the Chad Basin National Park, a large national park that contains populations of black crowned crane, spotted hyena, patas monkey, and roan antelope along with transient herds of some of Nigeria's last remaining African bush elephants.
African bush elephants in Chad Basin National Park
Ethnic Groups and Culture
Borno State as a territory has been inhabited for centuries by various ethnic groups, including the Dghwede, Glavda, Guduf, Laamang, Mafa, and Mandara in the central region; the Afade, Yedina (Buduma), and Kanembu in the extreme northeast; the Waja in the extreme south; and the Kyibaku, Kamwe, Kilba, and Margi groups in the south while the Kanuri and Shuwa Arabs live throughout the state's north and centre.
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The state has a predominance of Kanuri people, while other ethnic groups such as Lapang, Babur/Bura, Mafa and Marghi are also found in the southern part of the state. Shuwa Arabs are mainly the descendants of Arab people and are an example of the endurance of traditional political institutions in some areas of Africa.
Climate
The climate of Borno state is characteristic of rainfall variability, with a strong latitudinal zone, which is drier in this northeastern state. The trade wind, also regarded as the harmattan season is often experienced in the state between the months of December and February.
There is a reduction in rainfall from 3,800 mm to below 650 mm in the state, hence it rains in the state between 4 and 5 months annually. The state experiences high relative humidity annually. The hottest period in the state is in the month of May, with an average of 340C while the month of January is the coldest with an annual average of 230C.
Challenges
Years later, the state became the epicentre of the Islamist group Boko Haram since it began its insurgency in 2009. On 14 May 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in northeastern Nigeria, including Borno State along with the neighboring states of Adamawa and Yobe. This happened after fighting between Boko Haram and the state armed forces killed 200 people in the town of Baga.
How does Boko Haram manage to escape Nigerian army in Borno State?
Internally displaced person camps in Borno State, Nigeria were centers accommodating Nigerians who had been forced to flee their homes but remain within the country's borders.
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Internally displaced person camps in Borno State
Religion
Islam continues to be the dominant faith practised in Borno State, with much smaller numbers of adherents of Christianity and other faiths spread throughout and living within the region. Sharia operates as the primary foundation for the development, interpretation, and enforcement of most civic codes and laws.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri has its seat in the State. The Anglican Diocese of Maiduguri (1990) within the Province of Jos, is led by Bishop Emmanuel Morris (2017).
Natural Resources
Borno State is rich with abundant natural resources, which are highly demanded by industries and for commercial purposes.
Key Facts About Borno State
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria |
| Borders | Yobe (West), Gombe (Southwest), Adamawa (South), Cameroon (East), Niger (North), Chad (Northeast) |
| Capital City | Maiduguri |
| Area | Second largest state in Nigeria |
| Population (2016 est.) | 5.86 million |
| Major Ethnic Groups | Kanuri, Lapang, Babur/Bura, Mafa, Marghi, Shuwa Arabs |
| Dominant Religion | Islam |
| Key Features | Lake Chad, Chad Basin National Park |
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