Jalingo

Jalingo is the capital of Taraba State in northeastern Nigeria, set in savanna foothills near the Shebshi Mountains. Accounts of its founding vary — some trace it to 1893 as a military camp of the Muri Emirate, others to 1901 as a colonial administrative post — but it became the state capital in 1991, when Taraba State was carved out of the former Gongola State. In Fulfulde, the name is said to translate roughly as "the confluence of peace," a nod to the mix of ethnic groups who settled the area. The city's population, predominantly Fulani, Jukun, and Mumuye, has grown rapidly and now runs into the hundreds of thousands.

Landmarks include the Palace of the Emir of Muri and the campus of Taraba State University. The Jukun Cultural Festival, showcasing traditional music, dance, and crafts, is among the city's notable cultural events. The Mambilla Plateau, one of Nigeria's premier highland destinations, lies further south in the state and is often reached via Jalingo.