How legendary Wukari crocodiles live peacefully with humans
The legendary crocodiles of Wukari - the ancient seat of the Jukuns, had been a source of guidance to the once famous Kwararafa Empire.
The crocodiles, five in number, live in a pond located south of the Aku-Uka Palace in the ancient town. The pond is said to have existed for over 400 years.
Mr. Manu Danladi Boushe - the Kinda Acio of Wukari, a member of the Wukari Traditional Council, who conducted round the pond, alongside the custodians of the pond, said it has been in existence since the relocation of the capital of Kwararafa Empire from the former Kwararafa town to Wukari 400 years ago.
He said the movement of Kwararfa people started in 360AD, when they left Yemen to Egypt and from there to Ngazargamu in present day Yobe State about 1000 years ago. Kinda Acio explained that from Ngazargamu, the Kwararafa people migrated westward 74 kilometers to Wukari.
The area they established their capital was named Kwararafa and is located close to JalingoWukari Road now in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Mr. Manu explained that it was a tradition of Jukuns to move along with clerics who served as fortune tellers to Jukun rulers.
“Our ancestors had a practice, even before leaving Yemen, of seeking the views of fortune tellers before embarking on any expedition, war or movement and that tradition has been sustained by Jukuns till date. It was in line with that tradition that they moved with clerics who had the powers of fortune telling,” he added.
He said there are five crocodiles of different colours in the pond, with each inhabiting a hole that links the pond with Rivers Benue, Donga and Katsina Ala. According to him, the crocodiles move through the holes to the main rivers during the dry season and then return during the rainy season.
Kinda Acio, whose title is equivalent to Madaki in the Hausa Emirate, stated that the crocodiles
The Hausas were brought to work with Jukun rulers as fortune tellers and later integrated into the society with many of them marrying Jukun women
move freely inside Wukari and had also paid homage to the Aku-Uka every Friday in the olden days.
The crocodiles are said to possess extraordinary powers, and any attack or pelting them with stones attracts severe consequences, which may even include death.
“The crocodiles live in peace. They don’t attack humans or animals. We’ve never recorded any case of attack on any person or animals by the crocodiles,” Kinda Acio said.
“There were instances where some people died after attacking the crocodiles, which is why they move about freely in the town without being attacked, even, by children,” he added.
He, however, said the crocodiles no longer go to the palace to pay homage to the Aku-Uka as the practice had stopped many years back but they still move around areas that are not far from the pond. many years ago Jukun rulers came in contact with some Hausa people said to be from either Katsina or Zaria who were clerics in Islamic education as well as traditionalists.
The Hausas were brought to work with Jukun rulers as fortune tellers and later integrated into the society with many of them marrying Jukun women.
The Hausa clerics/ traditionalists who practiced Bori were found ideal for spiritual purposes by the Jukun rulers.
The traditionalists, it was gathered, saw the crocodiles as their deity and always consulted