Kebbi fisherman wins Argungu festival with 59kg fish catch

A 59 kilogram fish emerged as the biggest catch at the 61st edition of the Argungu International Fishing Festival, held in Argungu, Kebbi State on Saturday.

Sunday Dare, special adviser on media and publicity to the president, announced the development in a post on X.

The record catch was made by Abubakar Usman from Maiyama Local Government Area during the main fishing competition at the Matan Fada River.

His catch earned him the top prize at the annual cultural event, attracting thousands of local and international tourists.

Read also: Tinubu to witness Argungu fishing festival in Kebbi Saturday

For second place, Abdullahi Garba from Argungu secured the position with a 40kg fish, while Nasir Garba and another contestant tied for third place after landing 33kg fish each.

The organisers said the overall winner will receive two vehicles, a cash prize of N1 million and other items, while runners-up will also be rewarded with cash and material prizes.

Originally conceived to mark peace between the Sokoto Caliphate and the Kebbi Kingdom, the festival, which dates back to 1934, is one of Nigeria’s most prominent cultural events.

It has also evolved into a major tourist attraction.

Beyond the fishing contest, different activities were organised at the multi-day celebration, including traditional wrestling, cultural dances, music performances and exhibitions of local crafts.

The Argungu festival is widely regarded as a symbol of unity and cultural heritage in northern Nigeria, drawing participants from across the country each year.

Feyishola Jaiyesimi covers agriculture and environment trends at BusinessDay, Nigeria’s leading daily newspaper focused on economy and finance. Her stories draw on investigative journalism, and she has been selected for professional training by the US Embassy, Lagos, and Dataphyte. Feyishola holds a bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Environmental Biology from Ekiti State University.

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