Security agents on Wednesday blocked all routes leading to the Nasarawa Mini-Palace where the embattled former Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, resides in Kano.
Motorists were diverted to alternative routes as security personnel restricted access to the area, sparking widespread speculations.
LEADERSHIP reports that although the mini-palace has always had security presence, residents noted that free movement around the vicinity had never been obstructed to this extent.
The sudden restriction raised concerns that something unusual was unfolding.
The Police spokesperson for Kano Command, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, in a statement attributed the heightened security to intelligence reports of a planned violent protest.
“Following credible intelligence reports of a planned violent protest by some individuals, the Command, in collaboration with other security agencies, has deployed personnel and assets to strategic locations within Kano Metropolis to prevent the protest and ensure public safety,” SP Kiyawa said.
The police also disclosed that 17 suspected thugs had been arrested, and that investigations were ongoing.
The statement also warned individuals and groups against unlawful gatherings, processions, or violence, assuring that security agencies would take swift action against any threats to public order.
