History
Mandaragirau was important in the history of the Pabir tribe and the presentYamtarawala arrives in Biu
Reports written by EuropeanThe Mandaragirau kingdom
Records from theSplit of the Babur Kingdom
According to oral tradition, during the reign of the 12th Babur Chief Mai Dawi, his elder son Ali Sokar was the heir apparent of the kingdom. At one time when Ali Sokar went to war on behalf of the kingdom, their father Mai Dawi died in his absence and when he returned, to his greatest surprise, he discovered that his younger brother Mari Kopchi had taken over the throne to succeed their father. Ali Sokar was said to become so upset on the incident and shouted angrily 'Wan viri' (this exclamation in Babur means "who installed"). i.e. he wondered who on earth could have put Mari Kopchi on the throne to become chief of the Kingdom! As he did not want to fight his brother over the matter however, Ali Sokar angrily left on a dagil horse with his followers and established his kingdom at a hilltop close to Virahyel. According to the oral tradition it was from the exclamation "Wan viri" that the rulers of Biu from Mari Kopchi to date are recognized as 'Woviri' clan, and those of Mandaragirau are of the 'Dagil' clan referring to the dagil horse that Ali Sokar rode from Limbur area to the hilltop close to Virahyel where he established his kingdom. The lineage foundation of the two kingdoms (Biu and Mandaragirau) from the original Babur Kingdom can rightly be illustrated as shown below; #YAMTARAWALA - C. 1535–60 (Founder of Babur Kingdom) #MARI VIRAHYEL #DAWI DIRA NALA #YAMTA AMBA #MAI YAMTA KUPAYA WADI #MAI MARI WATILA TAMPTA #MAI YAMTARA BANYE 1680 #MAI MARI LUKU – 1690 #MAI JAKWA BIRTIKTIK – 1700 #MAI MARI THLAMA BAHARA -1710 #MAI MARI TAYAR WRINKI 1720 #MAI DAWI – 1730(Father of Mari Kopci & Ali Sokar) #MAI MARI KOPCI MAI ALI SOKAR 1740 ::(Biu kingdom) (Maidaragirau kingdom) ::WOVIRI CLAN DAGIL CLAN It was reported that the first 5 chiefs are mythical rather than historical and that Mai Mari WatilaTampta is the first of the definite chiefs. Between him and Yamtarawala there were probably more than 5 chiefs. The dates given against chiefs no 6–13 were based on probable average of 10 years reigns. (Davis, 1954:273). Davies on page 108, 301 and 303 described the Dagil clan as the clan of Chief of Mandaragirau an offshoot of the Babur Kingdom. They are the main clans of Babur who came with Yamtarawala like the woviri clan. Davies stated that the Dagil clan were found in Mandaragirau, Viyukamda (Biu), Virahyel and Ngonga (Kida). The headquarters of the Dagil Kingdom was moved to the present Mandaragirau town probably towards the middle of the 18th century when the Chief defeated the original inhabitants of the Bwala clan and made one of them Thlerima (Galadima). From the records of the British rulers inSome important places in the history of the Babur kingdoms
Dlimbur, Tila Lake and Viukuthla village are some of the significant archaeological sites in the history of Biu and Mandaragirau chiefdoms.Dlimbur
As it has earlier been mentioned, Dlimbur is the place where Yamtarawala settled when he came to Biu area. It is also the site where his tomb was located. It was said that in the olden days any new Pabir chief (Biu and Mandaragirau Mais) undergo some sort of initiation and bapktism at theTila Lake
According to the records, the Tila Lake was full of crocodiles of a creamy colour which were different from those found in the surroundingViukuthla village
According to the reports Viukuthla was one of the places used as capital by the Biu Chiefs in the 18th century. Davies on page 153 of the Biu Book also confirmed that Viukuthla, about four miles east of Biu, "is the site where the chiefs of the Babur and Mandaragirau were buried". In conformity with this practice, it has been established that the chiefs of Mandaragirau including Mai Mari, the last Chief were buried at Viukuthla.Colonisation of the Babur area
When the British came to the Babur area in 1903 and found some chiefdom in the area, they made deliberateResistance by the Mandaragirau and Bura communities against the upgrading of the Biu chief
In the case study conducted by Dr. Ronald Cohen he stated that two major problems emerged that time that threatened the extension of Biu sovereignty by the British. These were the independence of Mandaragirau and the resentment by the Bura at Biu over lordship. Although semi-independent, the other Babur areas seem to have had a traditional sense of respect for the Mai at Biu. Mandaragirau on the other hand felt itself the equal of Biu. Each Chief declared himself to be the direct lineal descendant of the legendary founder (Yamtarawala) of the Babur dynasty through two sons of that founder. There was therefore a tradition of independence and rivalry between the two towns that was part of the local political situation. The British fully appreciated this but they were more interested in pursuing a Policy consolidation into more easily administered districts and divisions. Having a plethora of petty chiefdoms was inimical to such goals. Consequently, it was decided to place Mandaragirau under the jurisdiction of Biu.(R Cohen 1972: 158). At first Mandaragirau rejected any subordination to their traditional rival. The collection of taxes and paying of respect to the Chief at Biu had to be imposed through the threat of armed forces. Ultimately Mandaragirau reluctance to accept the new system led in 1911 to the deposition of its chief. His son and several others of the chiefly lineage were all given a chance but none proved satisfactorily obedient. Finally in 1917 a completely different lineage was given the chiefship as village Head. In a footnote Cohen explained that this lineage was the founding lineage of Mandaragirau from whose hands the town was wrested many years ago by the descendants of the Biu royal dynasty – Mandaragirau branch. (R Cohen 1972: 159). Nevertheless, according to Cohen, some hard feelings remain. Songs were remembered that commemorate this final humbling of Mandaragirau in the face of Biu's growth in power. And there was some opinion in the area that in terms of development, infrastructure and education Mandaragirau had been slighted in order to make sure that Biu's power and modernization supersedes that of her old rival. The second problem after Mandaragirau was that of Bura. The incorporation of the acephalous of Bura community under the authority of Biu has gone through a series of phases. The first phase involved the enumeration of all Bura villages and the enforced collection interpreters. Later from about 1908–14 to 1918, the Bura were placed progressively more clearly under the developing emirate Native Authority at Biu. This involved the appointment of Pabir officials from Biu, who were responsible for taxation and administration of Bura areas South and West of Biu. The result of this incorporation was a series of armed confrontation and village burning in which the Bura were forcefully made to accept Pabir over – rule. In several cases Bura Village Heads were arrested and brought to trial in Biu where they were given jail sentences. For the Pabir that period represented the utilization of British power to expand their control over all of the Bura speaking area. For the Bura it represented a war of resistance against colonialism and the unwanted rule of Biu over a previously independent people. Some accented to this rule; others ran away across the Hawul River to Northern Adamawa in order to avoid Biu over lordship. According to Ronald Cohen it is important to note that besides the social and political forces operating to make Biu the central authority over all Pabir towns, there was also political factors. Elder, the Assistant Resident at this crucial period and Mai Ali Dogo (1908-1935) were able to cooperate with one another to achieve mutually agreed goals. The Mai realized very soon that the British wish to centralize local administration and regularize taxation. He used these goals to advance the power of Biu far beyond anything that had ever been possible in the pre-colonial era. Mai Biu fully accepted the military superiority of the British and manipulated any information going to them to solidify and expand his own control over the entire Pabir-Bura area. By 1921 when Elder finally left the area, the mutual trust and cooperation that had built up between these two men was a major factor in the creation of Biu Emirate.(R Cohen 1972:159). Davies in the Biu Book rightly summarized the whole episode by stating that the policy of singling out the chief of Biu and extending his area was not done without struggle and resistance but Mr. Elder (District Officer 1908–1911, 1918–1920) persevered and by the time he left, the people were outwardly following Biu. Whatever they may have thought in their hearts and however much they follow Biu because of the British government in background. (Davies 1954:73).Attempts made by the Dagil clan to restore the Mandaragirau Chiefdom
It was clear that in spite of the pressure and persecution of the 9TH Mandargirau Chief by British to place him under Biu, it was not in fact until 1918 that Mandaragirau agreed to follow Biu executively. And even at that period however, the Dagil Clan did not quite give up all hopes of reviving their Chiefdom. There were several requests and petitions written by them to the various governments right from the colonial period from 1927 to the Nigerian Military Government in 1983. For instance in 1926 one Ali Boy, a grandson to Mai Ali the 8th Chief of Mandaragirau met Mr. Patterson (Resident Borno Province) and Cpt. J.H.G. Smith at Maiduguri to demand for the installation of his father as Chief of Mandaragirau. Cpt. Smith was a District Officer in Biu (1924, 1925 - 1926). In 1927 Ali Boy followed his discussion on the subject with the two Colonial Officers, with a letter to the District Officer Biu. In the letter, Ali Boy claimed that when his grandfather, Mai Ali died, his father Ndalimari was the heir apparent to have succeeded Mai Ali. However, because Ndalimari was then too young to take over the throne, Mai Mari who was a brother to Mai Ali took over with a promise that he would relinquish the chieftaincy to Ndalimari the right heir to the throne when he (Ndalimari) grew up. That promise was not fulfilled up to the time the Europeans came and removed the Chieftaincy of Mandargirau. Ali Boy therefore requested the British authority to re-institute the Chiefdom of Mandaragirau and make his father the chief. In response to the petition Cpt A. L. Milroy, the Assistant District Officer Biu (10/3/1927-7/11/1927) wrote to the Resident Bornu Province on 16 April 1927 on the matter. Cpt Milroy highlighted that the Chiefdom of Mandaragirau ceased to exist long ago and that he had not seen any record of previous discussion regarding the revival or otherwise of the chiefdom. Moreover, he stated that the Emir of Biu at that time (Mai Ali Dogo) was very averse to doing so and that he (Mai Biu) claimed that he was advised by Major Edgar a onetime District Officer of Biu (7/2/1921 - 19/1/1924) not to do so. The Assistant District Officer concluded with a strong recommendation that Ali Boy's request should not "be upheld particularly in view of the Emir’s wishes". Consequently, the petition was finally rejected. In 1958, the British Government in Nigeria set up a Minority Commission to receive complains and resolve issues relating to community boundary, chieftaincy affairs etc. from aggrieved persons and or communities. On 10 March 1958 the Dagil sons and grandsons wrote and made a presentation to the commission at Kaduna. In the presentation, they complained of "an unjust removal" of the 9th Dagil clan chief of Mandaragirau, Mai Mari, and called for the revival of their chiefdom. They also cried for schools, hospitals and other social facilities that were not available in the area at that time. In response to the presentation Mr. H. S. Helton the then District Officer of Biu wrote to the Dagil clan on 18 September 1958. The D.O. recalled the entire incident leading to the deposition of the Dagil Chiefdom. He emphasized that "it was the Policy of the British Government gradually to bring the Buras, the Teras and the Mandaragirau people under the Chief of the Babur (Biu)". Therefore, he said, the British government did not intend to restore the independent Sarauta of Mandaragirau. As regards the need for schools and hospital, while he admitted that there were so many communities that were far from medical facilities in the area, he advised them to send their children to schools at Biu, Miringa and Sura (C.B.M). Mr. Hilton also advised them to use community labour to open the road between Mandaragirau and Biu.Mandaragirau as village area under Babur district
Consequent upon the demise of Mai Mari, the then 9th Chief of Mandaragirau in 1911, his son Kadali who succeeded him was later relegated to the position of a village Head under Biu. It was reported that kadali later quarreled with the Chief of Biu, Mai Ali Dogo and was deposed in 1917. He was succeeded by his brother Midala Yamta. Kadali left Mandaragirau for some time but returned later and settled near the village (1925 about) where he died. The following year, Midala Yamta was accused of embezzling tax money and was imprisoned. During the period he was serving the jail term, his brother Maina Tafida acted for mim. He returned after his sojourn in prison but refused to resume his position and left Mandaragirau. According to some source, Maina Tafida was asked to take over the Village Headship but he declined declaring that he would only accept to take over if a he would be made a Chief. Thereafter the Headship of Mandaragirau was given to the Bwala clan, the founder of the village who had been holding the position of Thlerma (Galadima) under the Chief of the Dagil clan. However, since the time of Maina Tafida to date, the Dagil clan has been holding the position of Wakil (Representative and Adviser) to the Bwala Village Heads wielding much influence on the authority of the village headship. After some time Mandaragirau was placed under the District Head Babur at Mirnga during the time of Galadima Usman Pokta (1952-1976), the District Head. It is pertinent to mention that the Babur District headquarter was formerly at Biu under the direct control of the Emir of Biu. In about 1924/25, the Babur District Headquarter was moved from Biu to Buratai with Maina Garga as the District Head. And in 1935/36 Maina Garga moved the Headquarter to Miringa as a result of an outbreak of guinea warm disease at Buratai. Midala Madu succeeded Maina Garga as District Head on 23 January 1936. Following the appointment of Midala Madu (who changed his name to Mohammed Aliyu) as Emir of Biu on 20 September 1951, Malam Usman Pokta took over as District Head Babur on 1 January 1952. Malam Usman Pokta was then Biu N. A. Chief Scribe. (Davies 1954:83,92 & 103) The Village Areas under Babur District during the time of Galadima Usman Pokta were Miringa, Mandaragirau, Buratai, Gur, Gunda and Garubula. Presently, all the village areas, except Gur have been upgraded to District Areas. Galadima Usman Pokta was retired in 1976 and was succeeded by Alhaji Midala Madu who died in November, 1980. Alhaji Maina Bukar succeeded Alhaji Midala Madu. In the month of February, 2002 Alhaji Maina Bukar also died. Alhaji Maina Sanda Mohammed, the present District Head who succeeded Maina Bukar was appointed District Head Mirnga in 2003. He was installed and turbaned as District Head the same time with Alhaji Hussaini Maina, the first District Head of Mandaragirau on 8 May 2003.Campaign for the upgrading of Mandaragirau as a district
The struggle for the upgrade of Mandaragirau Village Area to a District status started affectively since the late seventies. The move was initiated and encouraged by the elites of the area in diaspora and the few students of Mandaragirau indigene then in high institutions of learning. This class of people, by the end of 1980 formed the Mandaragirau Area Development Association (MADA). The main aims and objectives of the Association were to initiate and pursue for developmental projects for the entire village area. The demand for the upgrading of Mandaragirau to a District therefore became one of its main projects. The Association became a sort of a pressure group that mobilized the community and severally organized some activities and occasions at Mandaragirau through which requests for District were articulated and constantly sent to the various level of government in the state. So many write-ups were also made in the Media by the association and other individuals towards the achievement of this objective. As the people of Mandaragirau relented no effort in the pursuance for the upgrading of the area as a District, God answered their prayers and in 2002 Mandaragirau village area was made a District. The present Emir of Biu Mai Umar Mustapha Aliyu in his magnanimity also appointed late Malam Hussaini Maina Mari as the first District Head of this area. Alhaji Hussani Maina was a retired Director from the Ministry of Agriculture, Borno state. He was also at one time Sole Administrator of Biu Local Government. He was not only an indigene of the area but also a grandson of the late Mai Mari the 9th Chief of the Dagil clan of Mandaragirau. Hussani Maina and other newly appointed District heads in Biu emirate were installed and turbaned as District Heads of their respective areas by His Royal Highness the Emir of Biu on the 8th may, 2003. It was said to be a very colorful ceremony. After the installation ceremony at Biu the new district Head came to Mandaragirau and had a brief reception with his subjects. Everybody in the area was happy and jubilating for this achievement. Later in the evening of the same day, Mal. Hussaini left Mandaragirau for Maiduguri to come back later for the actual post installation ceremony to be organized by the Emirate Council and the people of his domain. Unfortunately, on his way, and just about few kilometers to Maiduguri his car was involved in a ghastly accident and Mal. Hussaini Maina lost his life. It was really sad, shocking and tragic. His remains was brought back to Mandaragirau and buried in his family house. Mandaragirau remained without a District Head for quite some time with the present village Head Lawan Musa Yerima, performing the job of the District Head on an acting capacity. It was not until 2008 that Malam Mohammed Maina Mari, junior brother to Late Hussaini was appointed District Head of the area. He was turbaned on 8 May 2008. The villages Areas under the District are Mandaragiraau, Liya and Deburo.Economy
The people of Mandaragirau are mainly farmers. The area, being located in the savannah, has very fertile land that grows very well most of the food and cash crops. The main food crops grown include guinea corn, millet, maize, cassava, sweat potatoes and groundnuts, Many varieties of vegetables and fruits are also produced. Cotton is also produced in some parts of the area. Some of the people are also engaged in petty trading and animal husbandry. The nearby main markets that are patronized are Biu, Mirnga, Kwaya, Sabon gari and Mandaragirau.Education and health
There are primary schools in some of the villages in the area, but the district has only one Universal Basic Education (UBE) Junior Secondary School located at Mandaragirau. The students population in the school always outreached the facilities available to cater for them. As regards health facilities, the district has only two health centers, one located at Mandaragirau, and the other at Liya with no qualified doctors. Most patients are referred to the general hospital Biu.Bibliography
*''Biu Book'' (1954-1956) by J.G. Davies *''The Emirates of Northern Nigeria'' (1966), Preliminary of their Historical Traditions, by S.J. Hogben & A.H.M. Kirk Green. *''Savannah Journal'' (December, 1974), ''The Evolution of Hierarchical Institutions: A Case Study from Biu, Nigeria''. By Ronald Green *''Notes on Babur Tribe'' (memo 1918), (DCG. 6), by G.C. Whiteley *Encyclopædia Britannica, ''Biu (Nigeria)'' *''Petition to District Officer Biu'' (1926/27), (District File M. 6 1911–27) by Ali Boyi *Paper Presentation to Minority Commission, 10 March 1958 by Mai Dagil Sons & GrandsonsReferences
{{reflist Populated places in Borno State