Michika: A strong People, a strong Nation,bouncing back despite various types of Insurgency attacks
The Kamwe or Higgi or Michika people are generally very enterprising, as they are found in big cities and towns in Nigeria engaging in all forms of lawful trades. They are very law abiding, peace loving people and hospitable people.
Kanwe has been the Original and principal tribe and language in Michika local government which was created in 1976. It is located in the northern axis of the state and is bordered on the East by the Republic of Cameroon.
Journals written by Dr Usman Aliyu an ABU historian,that Michika is the corrupted word for Mwe-ci-ka which is the Kamwe Language for "creeping in silently". Oral history has it that Michika was founded around the late 17th century by Kwada Kwakaa who was a hunter hunting on Lions, leopards in the Michika hills.
"Mwe" in the Kamwe language means heaven or hills. While "Ci-ka" means creep. Kwada Kwakaa was a heroic Kamwe prince from Kuli in Nkafamiya. Legend in Kamwe land believed that Kwada Kwakaa could hunt lions and leopards by himself.
The creation of a new District Head His Highness Mr Ngidda Zakawa Kwache a scion of Kwada Kwakaa was
elected for Michika town on 31 December 2013 following
the death of Coffor Maunde who acted as District Head for over 50 years. This epoch turn of events was considered a celebrated story that bounded up the Sons and Daughters of Higgi people both home abroad.
The most populated LGA in Adamawa state with about 26 chiefdoms and 84 villages around the mountainous caves in Michika,their peace,unity and Joy ceased when Boko Haram began to launch incessant attacks in the entire North Eastern part of Nigeria.
The cosmopolitan town was entirely displaced by insurgents (Boko Haram) with banks, college of health technology, a technical college and many places of worship destroyed and leaving the town that harbours more than 370,000 people (2006 cencus) ruined and empty.
The People left unceremoniously,their means of livelihood was tampered with, leaving their farms and their business areas for More than two years, their farms products were taken away by the insurgents, leaving them with virtually nothing.
The town was seized by the Boko Haram Islamic terrorists with the connivance of some Michika residence in September 2014 but the town was re-captured by the Nigerian military on the 29th of January 2015.
President Goodluck Jonathan happily announced re-capture of Michika Town from Boko Haram Islamic terrorists on
Thursday the 29th of January 2015. He made the announcement while on campaign tour of Adamawa State.
It is a special privilege for Michika and shows the President's concern for the Kamwe Land in particular.
After the pronouncement by Goodluck Johnathan, the people of Kanwe area were left with a serious problem of retuning back and settlement to their respective places of original.
Being a hard working people, their Men and Women are known to be highly industrious, venturing into lawful businesses in knock and crannies of Major cities and towns of this country.
I took a trip to Michika where i discovered the people have fully returned, the town is lively and business activities have fully return,the most impressive thing that will gladdens the heart of my readers will is that great people of Higgi Land return to Michika and built their destroyed homes, others social infrastructure with their personal money gotten from the same town destroyed by Boko Haram.
From Bazza to Watu, its songs of praises singing from the lips of the people for coming back. The kanwe from Sangere Ward of Michika to Tudun Wada,Kuzo,Jidel in a state of joy told our reporter that their joy knows no bounds as the can sleep and wake up well to cultivate their lands and trade into their businesses.
It's surprising to see the worst hit Wards by Boko Haram like Tsukuma,Jigalambo, Madzi,Michika 1, Michika 2, Minkisi/Wuro Ngiki and Moda/Dlaka being centrally situated in the heart of Michika town have pick up with unprecedented with a lots of social economy activities.
The lawmaker representing Michika constituency in the Adamawa House of Assembly,Joseph Ayuba (De Police) confirmed that the town is More relax as there plans to even hold the normal cultural festivals performed by the Kamwe people.Foremost amongst them are the Yawale,Wasinata and the Ngarba and the zhitta dance among other festivals.
Michika tourists sites and scenery like the Kwandree cold spring water at Dlaka and the Kamale peak at Kamale have began to witness visitors from various towns and villages of Higgi Kingdom.
Hon Adamu Kamale who is a House of representative Lawmaker at the National Assembly said the Kamwe people embraced western education early and hence they have many intellectuals and have the highest number of primary school pupil enrollment in Adamawa
State. Michika has produced prominent sons such as the former governors of the state Abubakar Saleh Michika,the former Military Administrator of Lagos,Gen. Buba Marwa and
Boni Haruna. Other famous Kamwe people were Late Damude T. Kwache, who was the pioneer educationist in
Kamwe land and Late Reverend (Dr) John Guli who was a
Christian leader and initiated the translation of the Holy Bible into the Kamwe language.
Tom Garba: Wrote from Yola the Capital of Adamawa state
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