Fresh tension erupted in Kano on Sunday following an alleged attack on the Kofar-Kudu palace of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, by supporters of the deposed 15th Emir, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.
According to a statement by the Kano Emirate Media Team signed by Sadam Yakasai, the incident occurred while Emir Sanusi was away from the palace. Yakasai claimed that Bayero’s loyalists broke through the palace gates, assaulted guards, and damaged police vehicles.
“Aminu deliberately passed through the emir’s palace road instead of the proper Koki-Nassarawa route,” Yakasai alleged. “This is not the first time he has used that road to intimidate residents.”
He added that Bayero, since his deposition by the state government, has occupied the Nassarawa mini-palace without legally challenging his removal. Despite this, the state government, he said, has exercised restraint.
Yakasai further claimed that 37 out of 38 district heads have pledged allegiance to Sanusi, while only one of Bayero’s six brothers has withheld support. He also pointed to a recent turbaning of former Governor Ganduje’s nephew by Sanusi as Village Head of Ganduje, rather than by Bayero.
“This is the first time Bayero is directing confrontation at Gidan Rumfa while remaining heavily guarded in Nassarawa Palace near Government House,” Yakasai said.
Efforts to obtain a response from Bayero’s media aide, Abubakar Kofar-Naisa, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone went unanswered.
However, an eyewitness and member of Bayero’s entourage, Muktar Dahiru, denied Yakasai’s version. He described the confrontation as a clash between Bayero’s supporters and “unknown miscreants” who attempted to block the 15th Emir’s convoy near the palace.
“We were returning from a condolence visit at Alhaji Aminu Dantata’s family house through Kofar-Kudu when we encountered hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons. Supporters of Emir Bayero cleared the way, and he passed through safely,” Dahiru said.
He added that police intervened by firing tear gas to disperse the crowd, and he was unaware of any palace guards being injured.
As of press time, police authorities had not issued an official statement regarding the incident.