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Haven of various species of Palearctic
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The people of Borno and Yobe States of present day Nigeria.
The people of Borno and Yobe States are a heterogeneous society consisting of many tribes. There are three major tribes represented in the area, these include Kanuri, Fulani and Shuwa. However, Hausa is widely spoken and this form the lingua-franka used as a means of communication among the various tribes.
Culturally, the people are predominantly farmers, graziers, fishermen and to some extent hunters. The common food crops cultivated are sorghum, millet, maize, rice and watermelon.
Grazing of livestock by both nomadic and resident cattle graziers is a common feature in the area. Sometimes large herds of cattle and goats are kept together as a flock. This is mainly practiced by the fulanis. Fishing is a common feature of the riverine communities inhabiting the inundated areas of Hadejia-Nguru wetlands and Lake Chad. This forms a major source of income for the people. Also, communities residing along riverbanks of Kamodugu-Yobe Rivers engage in fishing practice as source of income and for subsistence.
Trading, weaving of mats and caps, dying and tailoring are other means of livelihood that the people engage in. Mining of potash is practiced around the Bulatura oases where large deposits of potash are found in the Oases after the wet season.
Hunting is not very prominent among the local people but is mainly carried out by sophisticated poachers from urban areas.
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