Gooya Valley
{{Short description|Valley in Nigeria}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Goya Valley
| other_name =
| etymology =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| photo = Gooya mountain.jpg
| photo_size =
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption =
| map =
| map_image =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| map_relief =
| map_size =
| location = Yobe State, Nigeria
| label =
| label_position =
| elevation =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_ft =
| elevation_ref =
| prominence =
| prominence_m =
| prominence_ft =
| prominence_ref =
| isolation =
| isolation_km =
| isolation_mi =
| isolation_ref =
| parent_peak =
| listing =
| translation = a deep gorge
| language = Ngamo
| pronunciation =
| range =
| coordinates =
| coordinates_ref =
| topo =
| type =
| age =
| geology =
| volcanic_arc =
| volcanic_belt =
| volcanic_field =
| volcanic_arc/belt =
| last_eruption =
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route =
| normal_route =
| access =
| child =
| embedded =
}}
Gooya, Goya or Gòoya is an archaeological site, ancient city and a mountainous valley with many hollows, caves and gorges found in Fika local government area, Yobe State, Nigeria.{{Cite web |last=Soluap |date=2023-05-04 |title=Tourist Attractions in Yobe State, Nigeria |url=https://soluap.com/tourist-attractions-in-yobe-state-nigeria/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Soluap |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=confamgist |date=2023-01-13 |title=The Top 6 Largest States In Nigeria 2023 — Confamgists Nigeria |url=https://confamgists.com/the-top-6-largest-states-in-nigeria-2023/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Confamgists |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-02 |title=State Of State: Yobe State |url=https://thewillnews.com/state-of-state-yobe-state/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=thewillnews.com |language=en-US}}
It is considered one of the tourists attraction sites in Yobe and the deepest gorge valley in Nigeria.{{Cite web |last=Musa |first=Aliyu |date=2023-04-01 |title=Inside Yobe's 15 Tourist Attractions, Cultural Events And The Incredible 8000yrs Dufuna Canoe |url=https://leadership.ng/inside-yobes-15-tourist-attractions-cultural-events-and-the-incredible-8000yrs-dufuna-canoe/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nnorth-east/332465-for-the-record-full-text-of-yobe-governors-inaugural-speech.html?tztc=1 |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=www.premiumtimesng.com}}{{Cite web |title=Let There Be Light…And Then Came Twitter! By Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi {{!}} Sahara Reporters |url=https://saharareporters.com/2013/02/21/let-there-be-light%E2%80%A6and-then-came-twitter-chalya-princess-miri-gazhi |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=saharareporters.com}}{{Cite web |title=North East Region |url=https://www.myguidenigeria.com/regionalinfo/north-east-region |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=My Guide Nigeria |language=en}} The site is presently a home for various wild animals like hyenas and monkeys. It was used for a defensive retreat by the Karai-karai people against invading neighbouring tribes during intertribal wars.{{Cite web |last=Ademola |first=Rebecca |date=2022-12-01 |title=13 Fun Places To Take Your Kids In Yobe State Nigeria |url=https://www.naijschools.com/fun-places-to-take-your-kids-in-yobe-state-nigeria/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=naijschools.com |language=en-US}} Oral traditions showed that it was the former territory of the Karai-karai people as evidence of human existence in the area is shown as remains of the former city walls and ruined homes are still visible.{{Cite web |last=Nigeria |first=Media |date=2018-04-03 |title=Where To Go In Yobe State |url=https://www.medianigeria.com/where-to-go-in-yobe-state/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Media Nigeria |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Yobe State History, Tourist Attractions, Hotels & Travel Information {{!}} Nigeria travel info, tourism and attractions |url=https://www.cometonigeria.com/region/north-east-nigeria/yobe-state/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=www.cometonigeria.com |archive-date=2023-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718190247/https://www.cometonigeria.com/region/north-east-nigeria/yobe-state/ |url-status=dead }}
File:Beautiful view of Gooya lanscape (20).jpg
History
Oral history has it that after the rule of Ayam, Dakau and many other rulers, news reached Mai Idris Alooma (1580 - 1617) about his kinsmen i.e. the Karai-karai people. As a result, the narration said, Alooma marched to the Karai-karai land of western Kanem Borno with the sole aim of taking all the Karai-karai people to a place near him. The news of his trip and intent reached the Karai-karai people. The people on the other hand decided to leave for Gooya (a deep gorge) which the Karai-karai people especially those who came via the Gongola basin discovered as the fortified place for retreat whenever they felt they had no enough time to alert the rest of their kin and kith elsewhere on the oncoming of any danger.{{Cite book |last=Hassan B. |first=Adamu |title=Peoples of Western Kanem Bornu (A Historio-Linguistics perspective) |publisher=Mbeeno Club, Potiskum |year=1993 |edition=First |location=Yobe State, Nigeria |pages=40 |language=en}}
Mai Gireema was the leader who led the Karai-karai people to Gooya.{{Cite book |last=Kariya Gambo |first=Adamu Hassan |title=Karai-Karai People and Language (A Package for Barakau 2001) |publisher=Mbeeno Club, Potiskum |year=2001 |edition=First |location=Yobe State, Nigeria |pages=53 |language=en}}