On Sunday, July 6, supporters of Aminu Ado Bayero, the 15th Emir of Kano, and those of Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 16th Emir who had been reinstated, battled at the Kofar Kudu palace. The altercation highlighted the growing tension around the emirate throne.
Emir Bayero was returning from his home in Mandawari when the commotion took place. The royal gate was reportedly smashed during the altercation, guards were assaulted and hurt, and police cars on the palace grounds were vandalized.
The unrest follows the Kano State Government’s recent decision to reinstate Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano, a move that has been challenged in court. Bayero has refused to relinquish his claim to the throne and continues to reside at the Nasarawa Palace under tight security.
A statement from the Kano Emirate Media Team, signed by Sadam Yakasai, alleged that Bayero’s supporters “unleashed mayhem” during the incident in the absence of Emir Sanusi.
“They broke the gate and attacked the guards, injuring some of them. They smashed 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,” Yakasai alleged.
He further accused Emir Bayero of consistently using such routes to intimidate Sanusi’s loyalists and the public, despite relocating to the Nasarawa mini-palace.
“Let it be noted that the deposed emir does not have the support of any of the emirate stakeholders, as 37 out of the 38 district heads have pledged allegiance to Emir Sanusi,” he added.
Yakasai also cited the turbaning of the nephew of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje by Emir Sanusi as evidence of growing legitimacy. “This is the first time deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero is taking his fight directly to Gidan Rumfa,” he said.
Efforts to obtain a response from Bayero’s camp were unsuccessful, as his spokesperson, Abubakar Kofar-Naisa, did not respond to calls.
However, Muktar Dahiru, a member of Bayero’s entourage and eyewitness to the incident, disputed Yakasai’s claims. He said the confrontation was triggered by unknown hoodlums attempting to block the emir’s passage.
“I was on the entourage of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Bayero, when we were returning from a condolence visit to the family of Alhaji Aminu Dantata.
“As we approached Kofar Kudu, we encountered some miscreants with dangerous weapons trying to block the road. Our people had to clear the way. The emir passed safely,” Dahiru said.
He denied that any palace guard was injured and stated that the police dispersed the crowd using tear gas. Another Bayero supporter, Ayman Ado, accused Sanusi loyalists of attempting to provoke violence.
