One of the 36 states of Nigeria. After gaining independence in 1960, three regions were established in the country, each of which was dominated by one of the three main ethnic groups - Yoruba (West), Igbo (East), Hausa / Fulani (North). This configuration gave rise to conflicts, and to mitigate them, several waves of political and administrative reforms were carried out. As a consequence, each of the three main groups was divided into several states, while in some territories states were created for ethnic minorities.
Niger is located in the central part of the country; it is one of the largest states of Nigeria by territory. The state was established in 1976 in the territories of the former North-Western state, where Noupe resides, one of the largest ethnic minorities in the country. In the pre-colonial period, Noupe had a kingdom, which was later captured by the caliphate of Sokoto, dominated by Hausa / Fulani groups. The people of Noupe were subjected to Islamization but retained their ethnic identity. The creation of the state meant the political and administrative separation of Noupe from the dominant Hausa people.
Noupe speak the language of the Niger-Congolese family and profess Islam. Apart from them, representatives of other ethnic groups - Kambari, Gvari, Busa, etc. - reside in the province. The overwhelming majority of the population (95%) are Muslims. Niger belongs to the group of states in Nigeria, where the Shariah serves as a basis for civil and criminal law.
