Zurmi

Zurmi is a Local Government Area (LGA) in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Prominent places in the LGA are: Gurbin Bore, Kwashabawa, Birane, Mayasa, Tungar Fulani, Mashema, and Tubali. The most populated is Gurbin Bore.

Capital

The capital is Zurmi town located at 12°46′00″N 6°47′10″E.

Land area

The LGA has an area of 2,834 km2 and a population of 293,837 at the 2006 census.

Border

Zurmi shares border with Niger republic from the North and Katsina state from East.

The people of Zurmi are Fulani, Alibawa by tribes that migrated originally from Mali in the 16th Century; they came to Nigeria from Niger, through Katsina in a village called Runka in present day Katsina State.                                                                                                                                After settling down in Runka they were expelled by the Sarkin Katsina for fear of domination. They now left Katsina and moves towards ziyara, which was the leader of the empire under the leadersip of Sarkin Gobir Bawa Jan Gwarzo in 16th century, they visited Bawa Jan Gwarzo and paid him homage, and gave him gifts such as cows and sheeps, and also requested for his permission to settle in part of his area which is in present Zamfara. The permission was granted. They were also given a sword as evidence of conformant of leadership of that area to them.                                                                                                                                Their settlement after leaving Katsina was a village called Tsakauna in present Birane district. Their leader was called Isah. After settling down in Tsakauna, Isah died and was buried in Tsakauna in the early 17th century. After the death of Isah, his brother Yabo left Tsakauna to establish his own kingdom in Yabo, i.e., in the present Sokoto State while some move to Bungudu, some few kilometers to Zamfara State capital Gusau, and the rest that remain in Tsakauna also move to Bunga, a village 3 KM away from the Zurmi town presently. Under the leadership of Abu Hamid in the late 17th century from Bunga, they also migrated to Zurmi, all in the 17th century

  From the year 1784 when Abu Hamid was appointed as sarkin zamfara to this present day zurmi town and zurmi emirate council is over 200 years old.

Emirs of Zurmi

The Zurmi Emirate Council has 19 Emirs. They are called Sarkin Zamfara Zurmi. They are as follows.

  1. ABU HAMID                                    1784 – 1789 (5 YEARS)
  2. TARNA                                             1789 – 1809 (20 YEARS)
  3. KANAU                                            1809 – 1825 (16 YEARS)
  4. MAMUDA                                        1825 – 1845 (20 YEARS)
  5. MAINASARA                                   1845 – 1853 (8 YEARS)
  6. ALIYU                                               1853 – 1854 (1 YEAR)
  7. ABINADAWA                                  1854 – 1864 (8 YEARS)
  8. BAWA JAN BABILLACE               1864 – 1878 (16 YEARS)
  9. UMARU MAMUDA                         1878 – 1898 (20 YEARS)

10. ALIYU NA TIRA                              1898 – 1906 (8 YEARS) 

11. UMARU UME                                   1906 – 1908 (2 YEARS)

12. SON ALLAH                                     1908 – 1915 (7 YEARS)

13. ALIYU SAMBO                                1915 – 1928 (13 YEARS)

14. JIBIR                                                  1928 – 1935 (7 YEARS)

15. MUHAMMAD                                   1935 – 1950 (15 YEARS)

16. SULAIMAN                                       1950 – 1970 (20 YEARS)

17. MOH’D KABIR                                 1970 – 1976 (6 YEARS)

18. MUHAMMADU MAINASARAWA        1976 – 2002 (26 YEARS)

19. ALH. ABUBAKAR ATIKU MOH’D       15/03/2002 –  

Council wards

Zurmi Local Government Area has 11 wards, namely:

  1. Boko
  2. Dauran / Birnin-tsaba
  3. Dole
  4. Galadima/yanruwa
  5. Kanwa
  6. Kuturu/mayasa
  7. Kwashbawa
  8. Mashem
  9. Rukudawa
  10. Yan Buki/ Dutsi
  11. Zurmi

Polling units

Zurmi LGA has 35 polling units as follows:

  1. Maduba / Yar Kasuwa
  2. Kadamutsa I / M.P.S. Kadamutsa
  3. Kadamutsa II – M.P.S. Kadamutsa
  4. Nasarawa I / M.P.S. Nasarawa
  5. Nasarawa II / M.P.S. Nasarawa
  6. Gidan Shaho / Garkar Sarkin Noma
  7. Dada Shiyar Sabon Gari Zawayya Dada
  8. Sh/Galadima / Yar Yara
  9. Rimni / Yar Kofar
  10. Marmaro / Pri. Sch.
  11. Gidan Gadaje / Garkar Gadaje
  12. Bakon Gebe / Yar Magasa
  13. Majemawa I / J.N.I Zurmi
  14. Majemawa II / J.N.I. Zurmi
  15. Kofar Kuka / Yar Kofa
  16. Katanga I / Isau M.P.S. Zurmi
  17. Katanga II / Bakin Kotu
  18. Shiyar Gora / Women Centre Zurmi
  19. Shiyar Mamman / Town Dispensary Zurmi
  20. Ali Bawa / Shiyar Ali Bawa
  21. Awala Zumi/ Awala
  22. Gididi/Garkar Ardo
  23. Nasarawa III
  24. Nasarawa IV
  25. Awala II/G.G.D.S.S Zurmi
  26. Katanga II
  27. Katanga IV/Isau M.P.S
  28. Shiyar Gora II/Women Centre
  29. Kofar Kuka II/Court Lodge, Zurmi
  30. Alibawa II
  31. Majemawa III
  32. Majemawa IV/Girls’ Focal Pri. Sch Zurmi
  33. Shiyar Mamman II/Town Dispensary
  34. Kadamutsa II
  35. Kadamutsa IV/M.P.S

Climate

The temperature ranges from 59°F to 102°F year-round and is hot, cloudy, and windy during the dry season.

Temperature

The hot season, which runs from March 16 to May 22, lasts for 2 months and with daily highs that average more than 99°F. With average high temperatures of 102°F and low temperatures of 77°F, April is the hottest month of the year in Zurmi. The average daily high temperature during the mild season, which runs from December to January is below 88°F. With an average low of 60°F and high of 87°F, January is the coldest month of the year in Zurmi.

Trees

As of 2000, < 0.1% of Zurmi land cover was >30% tree cover.

From 2000 to 2020, Zurmi gained 11 ha of tree cover region-wide equal to < 0.1% of all tree cover gain in Zamfara.

In 2010, Zurmi had < 1 ha of tree cover, extending over < 0.1% of its land area.

In 2012, it lost 1 ha of tree cover, equivalent to 335 t of CO₂ emissions.

MSF ( Medecins Sans Frontieres [French] Doctors Without Borders [English]) assists Zamfara people with healthcare

People in Zamfara state, Nigeria, have faced unimaginable challenges due to armed conflict. Many of them have had to flee their homes and take shelter in displacement camps.

In Zurmi local government area, over 2000 displaced people now live in a school premises, lacking basic necessities like food and medical care.

Since January, MSF teams have been providing essential health services; medical consultations, screenings, and vaccinations to support those in need.

Zamfara people

Dismissed Zamfara Emir Abubakar Atiku is died few year after

Former Emir of Zurmi in Zamfara State, Abubakar Atiku, who was dethroned on April 27, 2021, for allegedly aiding banditry in his emirate has died in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Atiku died in a private hospital in Abu Dhabi following a protracted illness.

Bandits held people captive

Bello Turji, notorious bandits’ leader, reportedly held five residents of Moriki town in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State captive. The victims were said to have been held after they delivered N10.5m “Protection Levy” slammed on their community.

In April 2014 gunmen sack two villages In Zamfara, 26 persons were killed

Two villages in the Zurmi Local Government Area of Zanfara were attacked this afternoon. 26 people were killed in the attacks.

The attacks took place at around 12:00 pm, noon, local time, today in Maitsaba and Birnin-Tsaba villages in the Zurmi local government area. In recalling the incidents, the Chairman of Zurmi local government , Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed Gurbin-Bore, told newsmen this evening in Gusau, that the Gunmen were seen dressed in Nigerian Military uniforms, and riding about 50 motorcycles. The gunmen encircled the agrarian villages, and began shooting sporadically.

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