Thousands of fishermen gathered at the Matan Fadan river in northwestern Nigeria for the return of the Argungu fishing contest. The river is a UNESCO heritage site and the event is part of an annual international fishing festival. President Bola Tinubu watched as competitors caught fish using only traditional tools like hand-woven nets and calabash gourds. Some even caught fish with their bare hands. The champion caught a giant 59kg croaker, winning a cash prize. Others sold their fish, helping the local economy. The river stays closed all year, managed by the Sarkin Ruwa, the water chief. The festival also featured cultural shows, wrestling, and music. It began in 1934 to mark peace between the Sokoto Caliphate and the Argungu emirate. The event ran until 2010 but stopped due to security and infrastructure issues. It returned briefly in 2020 and now again in 2024. Despite President Tinubu calling the festival a sign of stability, many people still avoid it due to fears of attacks. "Our challenge now is that people are scared of coming. A lot of people don’t attend the event like before because of insecurity," said Hussein Mukwashe, Sarkin Ruwa. Fisherman Aliyu Muhammadu, 63, said, "I thank God that I got something to take home to my family to eat. I am very happy that I came."