The region was home to the Kanem-Bornu Empire for centuries. Maiduguri actually consists of two cities: Yerwa to the West and Old Maiduwuri to the east. Old Maiduwuri was selected by the British as their military headquarters while Yerwa was selected at approximately the same time by Shehu Abubakar Garbai of Borno to replace Kukawa as the new traditional capital of the Kanuri people. Maiduguri is estimated to have a population of 1,197,497 by 2009 as of 2007.. Its residents are mostly Muslim including Kanuri, Hausa,Shuwa, Bura, Marghi, and Fulani ethnic groups. There is also a considerable Christian population
