King Mari Watirwa (r. 1793–1838), whose capital was near Biu at Kogu, defeated Fulani invaders from the Gombe Emirate to the west.

[7] The economy is mixed agricultural, based on herding cattle, goats, sheep, horses, and donkeys[3] and farming sorghum, millet, maize, cowpea, and cotton.

[9] There is a small mining industry in Biu, with iron ore, gravel, magnesite, uranium, feldspar, topaz, mica, granite, aquamarine, nephelite, and salt being extracted.

In early 2022, the area was earmarked to receive vital infrastructure funds from multiple international charities to improve transport links.

[12] Biu experiences a yearly temperature of 32.16 oC, 2.7% higher than Nigeria's national average, with 36.38 millimeters of precipitation and 61.57 wet days (16.87% of the time).