The Kano emirate crisis yesterday took a different dimension as the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, said his supporters acted in self-defence in Sunday’s chaos at the palace of the 16th Emir of Kano, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.
On Sunday, supporters of Emir Sanusi II and Emir Bayero had engaged in a scuffle at the Kofar Kudu palace of Emir Sanusi, an incident the state government described as unfortunate, stating that innocent citizens were injured.
A statement earlier issued by the Kano Emirate Media Team, signed by Sadam Yakasai, said Emir Sanusi was out of the palace when the attack occurred.
He said, “They broke the gate and attacked the guards, injuring some of them. They smashed the police vehicles in the palace. Aminu deliberately passed through the emir’s palace road instead of taking the proper route from Koki to Nassarawa, and his hoodlums decided to attack Gidan Rumfa.”
But responding to the Sunday incident, Emir Ado Bayero said yesterday that his supporters acted in self-defence.
Emir Bayero’s media aide, Khalid Uba, told LEADERSHIP that the supporters of Emir Bayero were unarmed.
Uba, who spoke to our correspondent via telephone, maintained that no one on Emir Bayero’s entourage carried any weapon but that they were forced to repel the attack.
According to him, Emir Bayero’s use of that route was not his first.
“Upon our arrival from Dantata house on a condolence visit, some youths stormed the road with stones and weapons at Kofar Kudu.
“When we arrived towards Kofar Kudu, they started throwing stones at us, but fortunately, we were able to chase them back into the house, and the Emir passed successfully without anyone getting injured,” he said.
Uba confirmed the alleged eviction of Emir Bayero’s loyalists from the palace, saying they had received various complaints on the matter.
One City, Two Emirs
Tensions within the Kano Emirate have remained high following the state government’s decision to reinstate Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
The reinstatement came after the review of the emirate law, which had created four additional emirates.
The move has been challenged in court, with Aminu Ado Bayero refusing to relinquish his claim to the throne. He continues to occupy the Nasarawa Palace under a heavy security presence.
On 23 May 2024, the governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf reinstated Sanusi as emir of Kano. Sanusi had been deposed as emir four years earlier by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who led the balkanization of the Kano Emirate and the eventual dethronement of Sanusi.
Victims Of Palace Eviction Lament Their Fate
Meanwhile, one of the victims of the palace eviction, who did not want her name mentioned in print, told our correspondent that the incident had left her and her family members devastated as they were forced to leave the palace and take refuge with relatives.
She alleged that the people who chased them out came with thugs, who removed their roofing sheets, doors and windows, and directed them to leave the palace within 24 hours.
She added that the people scouted out those who disliked Emir Sanusi or were loyal to Emir Bayero and threatened to harm anyone who resisted eviction.
“Some people at Kofar Kwaru were given prior notice on Sunday at about midnight to evacuate on Monday, while people like us stumbled upon it on Monday.
“It took police intervention before they allowed us to stay overnight until today (Tuesday), but right now, we have loaded our things to manage with some relatives,” she explained.
She called on the federal government to intervene, lamenting their helplessness.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Police command said it had arrested four suspects in connection with the attack on the Emir Sanusi’s palace at Kofar Kudu in the Kano metropolis on Sunday.
This follows a clash between supporters of the 16th Emir of Kano, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, and supporters of the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, at the Kofar Kudu palace of Emir Sanusi.
Spokesperson of the command, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, told journalists in Kano that the suspects are in police custody and are undergoing investigation.
According to him, the state Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Bakori, has set up a panel to investigate the skirmish.
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