
Billiriⓘ, Biliri, also known as Tangle is one of the 11 Local Government Areas of Gombe State, Nigeria located South of Gombe[1] bordered to the north by Akko Local Government Area, south and east by Shongom, and northeast by Kaltungo Local Government Area. It is historically and presently a major settlement of the Tangale people who make up the dominant majority of its inhabitant. It has an area of 737km2 and a population of 202,144 as at the 2006 census. The Tangale language is the native language of the people and is widely spoken. Like other places in northern Nigeria, Hausa language is a common language as well[1] The postal code of the area is 771.[2]
History
The Tangale people claimed to have emerged as the settlers of Billiri from a migration journey through Borno State.They had to move from places such as Sanum kede and Kupto due to tribal wars. Tangaltong, one of the 7 clans in Tangale is where billiri as well as Bare and Kantali resided.[3] The Tangale language is a west chadic language.
Mai Tangle
The traditional ruler of the Tangale west people of Billiri is addressed as Mai Tangle.[4] The traditional stool is presently occupied by Mallam Danladi Maiyamba who ascended following the death of Mai Abdu Maishero. His ascension was shrouded in controversies as it was deemed by the people of the chiefdom as an imposition by the state governor, the series of protest that followed became violent causing destruction of properties. [5]
The Billiri Crisis
In March 2021, Danladi Sanusi-Maiyamba was announced by the Gombe State governor as the new Mai Tangle following the death of Mai Abdu Buba Maisharu II, the immediate past Mai of Tangale Kingdom who died in January 2021. The announcement erupted violent protests in Billiri over the claim that Mohammad Inuwa Yahaya, the Governor of the State, did not go with the candidate elected by the kingmakers. The erupted concerns and protests led to violence that claimed lives and properties.[1][6][7]
Towns & Villages
The towns and villages in Billiri Local Government Area include:[8]
- Billiri-Tangale
- Ayaba
- Baganje
- Bare
- Billiri
- Kalmai
- Kulkul
- Labepit
- Lakalkal
- Lamugu
- Landongor
- Pokuli
- Lanshi daji
- Popandi
- Sabon layi
- Sansani (Lakumana)
- Pandinkude
- Pandi kamio
- Pokwangli
- Shela
- Sikirit
- Tal
- Tanglang
- Todi
- Tudu kwaya[9]
Wards/Polling units
There are 10 wards in Billiri local government and they are:[10][11]
- Bangaje North
- Bangaje South
- Bare
- Billiri North
- Billiri South
- Kalmai
- Todi
- Tudu Kwaya
- Tal
- Tanglang
Religion
A majority of the inhabitants of Billiri are Christian, with a minority of its population Muslim and Traditional Worshippers.[12][1] Christmas and Easter are major annual religious holidays that are characterized by wide celebrations and vibrant rallies. The Islamic Eid (sallah) also calls for holidays and vibrant celebrations as well.
Schools
They include:
- ECWA Secondary School Billiri
- Sambo Memorial Secondary School
- Central Primary School
- Paulo Academy Billiri
- Pajuma Academy Kentengereng Billiri
- Government Day Secondary School Amtawlam
- Federal Government College Billiri (FGC) [13]
- Government Sciences Secondary School Billiri[14]
- College of Education Billiri
Food
Soya beans is one of the common foods in Billiri with about six prominent markets according to a study[15]
Festivals
- One of the major festival in the Tangale land is the “Pishi Tangle Day”: The Pishi Tangle bring together all the Tangle people in Gombe state and around the world to celebrate culture, heritage, and promote the peaceful co-existence of the Tangale people regardless of their difference, in the interest of the Tangale land and cultural heritage.
- Bai “Dog meat” Festival[16]
Market
Billiri market is on Saturday of every week, and it is recognized for the selling of agricultural products like cowpea, soya beans, beans, and other household items. The Biliri market is primarily regarded as a large market for diverse trading.[17]
Climate

The Billiri local government area in Gombe has the wet season is oppressive and overcast, the dry season is partly cloudy, and it is hot year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 56 °F to 98 °F and is rarely below 52 °F or above 103 °F [18][19][20][21]
Temperatures in Billiri on average, both high and low
- With an average daily high temperature of 95 °F, the hot season lasts for 2.3 months, from 11 February to 21 April. With an average high of 95 °F and low of 73 °F, April is the hottest month of the year in Billiri.[18]
- From 2 July to 14 October, the cool season, which has an average daily high temperature below 84 °F, lasts for 3.4 months. With an average low of 57 °F and a high of 88 °F, December is the coldest month of the year in Billiri.[18]
The Billiri Cloud
Over the course of the year, there is a substantial seasonal change in the average percentage of sky that is covered by clouds in Billiri.
In Billiri, the clearer season starts about 5 November and lasts for 4.0 months, finishing around 5 March.[18]
In Billiri, January is the clearest month of the year, with a 55% average percentage of clear, mostly clear, or partly overcast skies.[18]
Around 5 March, the year’s cloudier period starts, and it lasts for 8.0 months, ending around 5 November.[18]
May is the cloudiest month of the year in Billiri, with 79% of the time experiencing overcast or mostly cloudy skies on average.[18]
References
- ^ a b c d “SPECIAL REPORT: The true story of fatal religious crisis in Billiri, a peaceful Gombe community”. Premium Times. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ “Post Offices- with map of LGA”. NIPOST. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
- ^ “Tangale History”. kalkwi.tripod.com. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ Yaya, Haruna Gimba (3 March 2021). “11 Things to know about Sanusi Maiyamba, the new Mai Tangale”. Daily Trust. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ “Gombe gov appoints Maiyamba as Mai Tangale”. The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ “Curbing the rising trends of inter-communal clashes in Gombe State”. Daily Trust. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ “Gombe inaugurates 10-member committee to probe Billiri crisis”. TheCable. 19 April 2021.
- ^ places (1 January 1970). “Towns & Villages in Billiri « Gombe State « Nigeria”. Towns & Villages. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ “Billiri, Gombe State | Nigeria Directory, A List of Nigerian Businesses, Organisations, Firms and Companies | Nigeria Yellow Pages”. www.directory.org.ng. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ “Wards in Billiri Local Government Area”. www.manpower.com.ng. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ Nigeria, Media (24 April 2018). “Billiri L.G.A Polling Units/Wards”. Media Nigeria. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ “Mai Tangale: How selection of traditional ruler shattered peace in Gombe community”. The Punch. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ “Federal Government College, Billiri, Gombe”. Hotels.ng Places. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ “Secondary Schools in Billiri, Gombe State”. www.manpower.com.ng. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ administrator. “ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SOYBEANS MARKETING IN BILLIRI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA”. managementjournal.usamv.ro. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ Webmaster (9 January 2010). “Gombe: Discovering treasures of Pissi Tangale”. Daily Trust. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
- ^ CIfromRED (22 June 2021). “The 7 best markets to visit in Gombe”. Culture Intelligence from RED. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g “Billiri Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Nigeria) – Weather Spark”. weatherspark.com. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ “Weather in Billiri – accurate and detailed weather forecast in Billiri for today, tomorrow and week. Billiri, Gombe, Nigeria”. meteotrend.com. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ Morel, Emilien. “Weather Billiri Gombe Nigeria”. Weather Avenue. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ “Weather in Billiri, Gombe State, Nigeria | Tomorrow.io”. Tomorrow.io Weather. Retrieved 9 July 2023.