A wave of controversy has erupted across the North following a police summons issued to the Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, by the office of the Inspector General of Police.
The Assembly for Preservation of Traditional Institutions in Nigeria has condemned the move as a deliberate affront to the Northern traditional institution and a potential trigger for unrest in Kano.
In a strongly worded statement released on Sunday, National Coordinator of the group, Yahya Nda Musa, accused the Police High Command of playing into the hands of unpatriotic elements bent on causing chaos in the ancient city. He described the invitation as “suspicious,” “provocative,” and “part of a wider plot to justify a possible state of emergency” in Kano State.
The police invitation, dated April 4, 2025, and signed by Commissioner of Police (OPS), Olajide Rufus Ibitoye, on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Force Intelligence, surfaced on April 5.
It reportedly directs the Emir to appear in Abuja for questioning over incidents that occurred during the recent Sallah celebration.
However, the group questioned the rationale behind the summons, pointing out that the attack on the Emir’s convoy after Eid prayers is already under investigation by the Kano State Police Command.
One suspect, 20-year-old Sagiru Usman of Sharifai Quarters, has been arrested in connection with what authorities termed an assassination attempt on the Emir.
The attack led to the death of a local vigilante, Surajo Rabiu.
Also under interrogation is the Emir’s Chief Guard, Alhaji Isyaku Wada (Shamakin Kano), further underscoring the active role already being played by the local command.
“It is confusing and unimaginable,” the group said, “that despite the ongoing investigation by the Kano State Command, the Police High Command in Abuja would still summon the Emir over the same matter. This is curious.”
The Assembly urged the Nigeria Police not to allow itself to be used as a tool in a political chess game that could endanger the peace of Kano and the dignity of its revered institutions.
As tensions rise, observers are calling for restraint and transparency, warning that any attempt to undermine the Emir or stoke unrest in Kano could have far-reaching consequences for national stability.