Dukku

Dukku
LGA and town
Motto(s): Read, Farm, and Write
Dukku Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 10°49′N 10°46′E / 10.817°N 10.767°E / 10.817; 10.767Coordinates: 10°49′N 10°46′E / 10.817°N 10.767°E / 10.817; 10.767
Country	Nigeria
State	Gombe State
Headquarters	Dukku Town
Government
• Local Government Chairman and the Head of the Local Government Council	Alhaji Abdulkadir Yusuf Rashid
• Emir	Haruna Abdulkadir El-Rasheed
Area
• Total	3,815 km2 (1,473 sq mi)
Population (2006 census)
• Total	207,190
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
3-digit postal code prefix	760
ISO 3166 code	NG.GO.DU

Dukku is a Local Government Area of Gombe State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Dukku. The Gongola River flows through the west and north of the LGA.

It has an area of 3,815 km² and a population of 207,190 at the 2006 census.

The postal code of the area is 760.^[1]

The northeasterly line of equal latitude and longitude passes through the LGA about 6 km to the southeast of the town of Dukku.^[2]

Historically, Dukku town was formed in the 17th century. It is officially believed that Arɗo Almoodo, a leader of Fulani clan and his people with their cattle migrated from Fuuta Jallon in Guinea and settled in the present location.

But before they finally settled in Dukku, being herders, they wandered around in search of pasture for their animals. They first inhabited in a settlement, according to oral tradition, called Kamanei. But they didn't last there because of the tyranny of the king of Kamanei who had a randy male child that would go first to every bride on her bridal night.This custom didn't augur well with the Fulani who settled there,especially one of Arɗo Almoodo's son, Yero Nanaro who took an oath that he would slay the prince when the latter came to his bride on their first night. And Yero fulfilled his promise by slaughtering the prince when he came to his bride.

This incident forced Arɗo Almoodo and his people to spontaneously leave Kamanei on that night and moved further south, nonstop for weeks until they got to a place called Lumpaaso, some few miles away from present Dukku, at the bank of Gongola River, one of the tributaries of River Benue under the territory of a Bolewa Chief of Kalam named Moi Duja.

The Chief of Kalam, Moi Duja accorded them great hospitality by allowing them to settle in his territory. But no sooner had they settled in Lumpaaso than they realised that the place was not conducive for them with their animals as it was very close to river which makes it difficult for cattle grazing. Thus they complained to the chief who in turned ordered one of his palace sentinels to show them a better and more convenient place in his territory, which is the present settlement of Dukku.

The name "Dukku" is a Fulfulde word. The town name was initially Dukku ƴori, a combination of Fulfulde word, Dukku (establish) and Bolawa word, ƴori (it is okay), but later shortened to Dukku for convenience.

References