While Nigerians are busy fighting over celebrities online, actual real-life madness is still happening in Kebbi State.
The 61st Argungu International Fishing & Cultural Festival reportedly ran from Feb 11–14, 2026, and the winner walked away with two Toyota vehicles and ₦1 million after catching a 59kg fish.
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What is the Argungu Fishing Festival?
For non-Nigerians: Argungu is basically Nigeria’s annual “enter the river and fight the fish” festival.
It started in 1934 as part of a peace agreement between the Sokoto Caliphate and the Kebbi Kingdom. Instead of signing paperwork, they apparently decided the best way to end the war was… to jump into a river together.
The contest takes place at the Matan Fada River, and when the signal goes off, thousands of fishermen rush in at once using mostly traditional tools.
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Rules / Why This Is Insane
• No modern fishing gear.
• No hooks, no modern nets, no tanks.
• Mostly hand nets and gourds (calabash).
• People literally wrestle fish in muddy water while packed shoulder-to-shoulder with other men.
Apparently, this is considered a sport.
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Local Lore (Yes, Really)
The festival has a spiritual side.
There’s a title called Sarkin Ruwa (River Chief), who is believed to perform rituals to “release” the fish for the festival.
Local legends also claim he has some sort of understanding with crocodiles in the river (conveniently, they’re supposed to “hide” during the event).
Not sure how much of that is folklore vs. PR, but Nigerians love these mystical explanations.
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The 2026 Winner
The winner this year was Abubakar Usman (from Maiyama LGA, Kebbi).
Winning Catch
59kg fish (basically the weight of a full cement bag)
Prizes
He reportedly won:
• Two Toyota vehicles (donated by Sokoto State Government)
• ₦1 million cash
• Additional gifts from sponsors
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Runners-Up
2nd Place: Abdullahi Garba (40kg fish)
• Toyota saloon car
• ₦1 million cash
3rd Place: Tie between two contestants (33kg fish each)
• Motorcycles
• ₦750,000 each
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Extra Weird Detail
President Bola Tinubu was reportedly present at the finale, and the top three fish were supposedly presented to him for a “special meal” for the First Lady, which is honestly a very Nigerian way to end the whole thing.
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Receipts
Argungu fishing festival's biggest catch weighs 59kg
The 61st Argungu Fishing Festival saw a record 59kg catch, with Abubakar Usman emerging as the winner. The historic event celebrates Nigerian culture.
punchng.com
