Potiskum

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City and area in Yobe State, Nigeria

title: "Potiskum" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["potiskum"] description: "City and area in Yobe State, Nigeria" topic_path: "general/potiskum" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potiskum" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary City and area in Yobe State, Nigeria ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
official_namePotiskum
other_namePataskuma, Pataskum
settlement_typeLGA
pushpin_mapNigeria
pushpin_mapsize250
pushpin_map_captionLocation in Nigeria
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameNigeria
subdivision_type1State
subdivision_name1Yobe State
government_typeDemocracy
leader_titleLocal Government Chairman
established_titleLocal Government
unit_prefMetric
area_land_km2
population_as_of2006 census
population_total204,866
population_est322,100
pop_est_as_of2022
population_blank1_titleEthnicities
population_blank2_titleReligions
timezoneWAT
utc_offset+1
mapframeyes
mapframe-zoom8
mapframe-wikidatayes
mapframe-markervillage
postal_code_type3-digit postal code prefix
iso_codeNG.YO.PO
footnotesTYNG
::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Goat_and_sheep_market_in_potiskum.jpg" caption="Goat and Sheep market in potiskum"] ::

|official_name = Potiskum |other_name = Pataskuma, Pataskum |native_name = |nickname = |settlement_type = LGA |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |pushpin_map = Nigeria |pushpin_label_position = |pushpin_mapsize=250 |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Nigeria |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name =Nigeria |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 =Yobe State |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |government_footnotes = |government_type = Democracy |leader_title =Local Government Chairman |leader_name = |established_title = Local Government

|area_magnitude = |unit_pref =Metric |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = |area_land_km2 = |population_as_of = 2006 census |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = 204,866 | population_est = 322,100 | pop_est_as_of = 2022 |population_density_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title = Ethnicities |population_blank1 = |population_blank2_title = Religions |population_blank2 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi = ||timezone =WAT |utc_offset = +1 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 8 | mapframe-wikidata = yes | mapframe-marker = village |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = 3-digit postal code prefix |postal_code = |area_code = |iso_code = NG.YO.PO |website = |footnotes = TYNG ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Cattle_in_Potiskum_cattle_market.jpg" caption="Potiskum cattle market"] ::

Potiskum (also Pataskum) is a local government area and city in Yobe State northeastern part of Nigeria. It's the largest, most populous and fastest growing city in Yobe State. Of the native languages in Yobe State, Potiskum is home to several major groups which include the Karai-Karai, Ngizim and Hausa-Fulani. It is on the A3 highway at . It has an area of 559 km2.

Potiskum was organized by the Ngizim people, who had subjugated the Karakare people.[1] The state was formed in 1809 by a Chief of the Ngizim named Mai Bauya

Traditional Emirate

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Potiskum_emire_palace.jg.jpg" caption="Potiskum Emir's Place."] ::

The current Emir of Pataskum is Mai Umar Ibn Wuriwa Bauya Lai-Lai.

Government

Economy

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Phone_center.jpg" caption="Potiskum Gsm Market"] ::

Potiskum has been a thriving trade hegemony in Yobe State because of its strategic position as a centre of commerce, learning, spiritual and cultural revival. People from neighbouring Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi and Gombe States, and numerous others from Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Central African Republic have stakes in the 'biggest cattle market in sub-Saharan Africa' there. It also has one of the largest correctional facilities in Nigeria. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Main_market._jpg.jpg" caption="Potiskum Main Market"] ::

Therefore, Potiskum is known for the following markets:

Potiskum Cattle Market

Potiskum is the largest city in Yobe State with booming business in the area. It has one of the largest cattle markets in Africa and the largest in West Africa. Most of the cattle are transported to other parts of the country.

Population

As of 2006, the population of Potiskum was 156,859. In 2022, the population of Potiskum stands at 483,346. As of 2023, the population of Potiskum was 511,885.

Demography

Potiskum is projected to be the seventh fastest-growing city on the African continent between 2020 and 2025, with a 5.65% growth.

Potiskum airstrip

Potiskum Airstrip is located in city's GRA from the western part of the town along Kano road. The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) office in the field, which is supposed to be responsible for the transmission of air traffic information to aircraft flying over the airfield, is not fully functional as the Omni-Directional Range Equipment installed there was not equipped with computers to enable the workers to spot planes over Potiskum. The airport came into being during the scramble for Africa by the colonialists because Potiskum was a sprawling town in the north which was earlier annexed by Germany before the United Kingdom took over. The aim of constructing the airport was to make the movements of the white men in and out of Potiskum easy because the town was also the gateway to other nearby towns in the north, which had enhanced trading activities and other associated commercial services in the region.

Boko Haram attacks

In July 2009, Boko Haram members set a police station on fire during their uprising.

A May 2012 attack on the cattle market killed over 34 people, but appeared to be an attack by criminals seeking revenge, and not Boko Haram.

On 25 December 2012, a mass shooting occurred at a church.

On 3 November 2014, at least 30 people were killed in a suicide bombing at a Shia Muslim religious procession at Faydia Islamic school. Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam promised members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (ISMN) that he would demand full investigation of allegations of shootings of its members by soldiers deployed to the scene of the attack.

On 6 November 2014, sixteen men arrested by Nigerian Army soldiers were "found dead of bullet wounds hours later." (Another source puts the number at eighteen.)

On 10 November 2014 at least 46 boys were killed and 79 wounded, by a suicide bomber during a student assembly at the Government Senior Science Secondary School."

On 11 January 2015, four people were killed and over 40 were injured at Kasuwar Jagwal G.S.M market after an attack by two female suicide bombers, one of whom appeared to be about 15 years old. A bombing involving a parked car also occurred that day, killing two people and injuring one, at the Divisional Police Station.

On 13 January 2015, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam condemned the attacks, and "proposed the establishment of an Emergency Response Centre at the General Hospital in Potiskum." He stated that the medical bills for those injured in the attack would be paid, including those injured who had been transferred to other hospitals for treatment.

On 22 and 24 February 2015, suicide bombers killed 22 people.

On 5 July 2015, six people were killed in a suicide bombing.

Climate

The wet and dry seasons are hot and unpleasant in Potiskum, with temperatures averaging 57 °F to 104 °F and infrequently dropping below 51 °F or rising over 108 °F.

From March 15 to May 23, the hot season, with an average daily high temperature exceeding 100 °F, lasts for 2.2 months. With an average high of 103 °F and low of 75 °F, April is the hottest month of the year in Potiskum.

From July 18 to September 27, the cool season, which has an average daily high temperature below 90 °F, lasts for 2.3 months. With an average low of 58 °F and high of 90 °F, January is the coldest month of the year in Potiskum.

| width = auto | metric first = yes | single line = yes | location = Potiskum (1991–2020) | Jan record high C = 41.2 | Feb record high C = 42.5 | Mar record high C = 43 | Apr record high C = 46.1 | May record high C = 43.5 | Jun record high C = 42 | Jul record high C = 38.5 | Aug record high C = 39 | Sep record high C = 38 | Oct record high C = 39.2 | Nov record high C = 40.4 | Dec record high C = 39.2 | year record high C = 46.1

| Jan high C = 31.1 | Feb high C = 34.3 | Mar high C = 38.1 | Apr high C = 40.1 | May high C = 38.8 | Jun high C = 35.8 | Jul high C = 32.3 | Aug high C = 30.7 | Sep high C = 32.5 | Oct high C = 35.0 | Nov high C = 34.9 | Dec high C = 31.8 | year high C = 34.6

| Jan mean C = 22.2 | Feb mean C = 25.3 | Mar mean C = 29.4 | Apr mean C = 32.4 | May mean C = 32.3 | Jun mean C = 30.2 | Jul mean C = 27.7 | Aug mean C = 26.4 | Sep mean C = 27.5 | Oct mean C = 28.1 | Nov mean C = 25.7 | Dec mean C = 22.8 | year mean C = 27.5

| Jan low C = 13.3 | Feb low C = 16.3 | Mar low C = 20.6 | Apr low C = 24.6 | May low C = 25.7 | Jun low C = 24.6 | Jul low C = 23.0 | Aug low C = 22.2 | Sep low C = 22.4 | Oct low C = 21.1 | Nov low C = 16.5 | Dec low C = 13.7 | year low C = 20.4

| Jan record low C = 5 | Feb record low C = 4.5 | Mar record low C = 9.5 | Apr record low C = 13 | May record low C = 13 | Jun record low C = 15.1 | Jul record low C = 18.7 | Aug record low C = 18 | Sep record low C = 16.5 | Oct record low C = 12 | Nov record low C = 10 | Dec record low C = 5 | year record low C = 4.5

| precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 0.0 | Feb precipitation mm = 0.6 | Mar precipitation mm = 0.0 | Apr precipitation mm = 6.5 | May precipitation mm = 38.8 | Jun precipitation mm = 82.5 | Jul precipitation mm = 168.5 | Aug precipitation mm = 239.2 | Sep precipitation mm = 120.0 | Oct precipitation mm = 31.8 | Nov precipitation mm = 0.1 | Dec precipitation mm = 0.0 | year precipitation mm = 688.0

| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm | Jan precipitation days = 0.0 | Feb precipitation days = 0.0 | Mar precipitation days = 0.0 | Apr precipitation days = 0.7 | May precipitation days = 3.4 | Jun precipitation days = 5.9 | Jul precipitation days = 9.7 | Aug precipitation days = 13.1 | Sep precipitation days = 7.6 | Oct precipitation days = 2.7 | Nov precipitation days = 0.0 | Dec precipitation days = 0.0 | year precipitation days = 43.2

| Jan humidity = 18.6 | Feb humidity = 14.6 | Mar humidity = 14.5 | Apr humidity = 29.5 | May humidity = 48.2 | Jun humidity = 61.4 | Jul humidity = 72.9 | Aug humidity = 82.7 | Sep humidity = 81.5 | Oct humidity = 64.5 | Nov humidity = 32.8 | Dec humidity = 23.4 | year humidity = 45.4

| source = NOAA{{cite web |url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Nigeria/CSV/Potiskum_65073.csv |title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Potiskum |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = January 7, 2024}}

Notable people

References

References

  1. "Yobe State: Subdivision".
  2. "Potiskum Local Government Area".
  3. (2022-06-20). "Potiskum Town, Where most businesses are Involved In the Trailer transportation Business".
  4. (2020-01-16). "Yobe governor speaks on fatal attack on Potiskum emir {{!}} Premium Times Nigeria".
  5. "Potiskum".
  6. http://nationalpopulation.gov.ng
  7. https://populationstat.com › nigeria ›
  8. (13 August 2021). "Ranked: The World's Fastest Growing Cities". virtual capitalist.
  9. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-17936549 "Nigeria's Potiskum Cattle Market Raid 'Kills Dozens.'"] BBC News, May 3, 2012
  10. ''[http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/resident-walks-among-burnt-cattle-market-in-northeast-news-photo/143817828 A Resident Walks among Burnt Cattle Market in Northeast Nigerian Town of Potiskum on May 4, 2012]''. Getty Images. Accessed January 18, 2015
  11. Musikilu Mojeed. [http://allafrica.com/stories/201501040153.html "Nigeria: Car Bomb Explosion Kills 6 in Yobe"]. ''Premium Times'' - allAfrica.com, December 31, 2014
  12. Njadvara Musa. [http://allafrica.com/stories/201411070714.html "Nigeria: Yobe to Probe Potiskum Blast, Death Toll Rises to 30"]. ''The Guardian'' - allAfrica.com. 6 Nov 2014. Accessed January 18, 2015
  13. Hamisu Kabir Matazu and Ibrahim Kabiru Sule. [http://allafrica.com/stories/201411071589.html "Nigeria: Tension in Potiskum As Soldiers Kill 18"]. ''Daily Trust'' - allAfrica.com, November 7, 2014
  14. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29985252 "Nigeria School Blast in Potiskum Kills Dozens"]. BBC News - Africa, November 10, 2014.
  15. Schiavenza, Matt. [https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/11/Suspected-Boko-Haram-Suicide-Bomber-Kills-50-Students-at-Government-Science-Technical-College-Potiskum/382595/ "Suspected Boko Haram Suicide Bomber Kills 50 in Government Science Technical College Potiskum"] ''The Atlantic'', 10 November 2014
  16. Nossiter, Adam. [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/11/world/africa/nigeria-suicide-bomber-boko-haram.html "Bomb at School in Nigeria Kills Nearly 50 Boys"]. ''[[New York Times]]'', November 10, 2014
  17. Ndahi Marama with agency reports. [http://allafrica.com/stories/201501120572.html "Nigeria: Female Suicide Bombers Kill 39 in Potiskum, Maiduguri Markets"]. Vanguard - allAfrica.com, 12 January 2015
  18. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30787105 "In Pictures: Aftermath of Bombing in Nigerian Town of Potiskum"]. BBC News, 12 January 2015
  19. Hamisu Kabir Matazu. [http://allafrica.com/stories/201501120608.html "Nigeria: Fresh Bomb Blast Kills Two Policemen in Potiskum"]. Daily Trust - allAfrica.com, 11 January 2015
  20. [http://www.channelstv.com/2015/01/13/gaidam-proposes-emergency-centre-at-potiskum-hospital/ "Gaidam Proposes Emergency Centre At Potiskum Hospital"]. Channels Television, 13 January 2015
  21. "Al Jazeera Live | "Today's latest from al Jazeera"".
  22. (2015-07-05). "Boko Haram attack caps week of bloodshed in Nigeria". BBC News.
  23. "Potiskum Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Nigeria) - Weather Spark".
  24. "Potiskum, Yobe, Nigeria 10-Day Weather Forecast". The Weather Channel.
  25. (2023-08-27). "Potiskum".
  26. "Simulated historical climate & weather data for Potiskum".
  27. "Climate Change Potiskum".
  28. "Potiskum, Yobe, NG Climate Zone, Monthly Averages, Historical Weather Data".

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