Jigawa State

Jigawa (Hausa: Jihar Jigawa; Fula: Leydi Jigawa 𞤤𞤫𞤴𞤮𞤤 𞤶𞤭𞤺𞤢𞤱𞤢) is a state in Nigeria, located in the North-west region of the country. Jigawa was created on 27 August 1991, under the General Ibrahim Babangida military administration. Jigawa State was formerly part of Kano State and was located in its northeastern-most region. It forms part of Nigeria's national border with the Republic of Niger. The state capital and largest city is Dutse. Jigawa state has 27 local governments. The eighth largest state by population, residents of Jigawa State are predominantly of Hausa or Fulani background. The vast majority of the residents of Jigawa State are Muslim, and it is one of the twelve states in the country to be governed by Sharia law. Jigawa State is famous for the Dutsen Habude cave paintings in the town of Birnin Kudu, which have been dated back to the Neolithic period. The town of Hadejia (formerly Biram) is notable as being one of the traditional "seven true Hausa states". The Jigawa State economy remains largely dependent on agriculture. Due to state's semi-arid climate, outward migration by workers to neighboring states such as Kano State in search of off-season work is common. Scarcity of arable land within the state has become increasingly problematic in recent years, with arable farmland increasingly vulnerable to national disasters like flooding, which will become more prevalent due to climate change. As a result, tensions between farmers and nomadic Fulani herdsmen over arable land have turned violent in recent years.