Fresh tension has gripped the ancient Kano Emirate following a violent confrontation at the Kofar-Kudu palace, where supporters of the deposed 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, and loyalists of the reinstated 16th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, allegedly clashed on Sunday.
The fracas reportedly broke out as Bayero’s convoy returned from a condolence visit to the family home of business mogul, Alhaji Aminu Dantata.
According to a statement by the Kano Emirate Media Team, the conflict escalated when Bayero’s supporters forcefully breached the palace gate in Gidan Rumfa, assaulted palace guards, and vandalized police vehicles stationed on site.
The Emirate’s spokesperson, Sadam Yakasai, claimed the attack occurred in Emir Sanusi’s absence, and accused Bayero of deliberately choosing a confrontational route to provoke unrest. “He passed through the emir’s palace road instead of the Koki-Nassarawa route, and his hoodlums attacked the palace,” Yakasai stated.
Yakasai further criticized Bayero’s continued presence at the Nassarawa mini-palace, which he described as unlawful occupation since the government annulled his reign. He claimed Bayero has yet to challenge his deposition in court, instead relying on external litigations. “Despite all provocations, the governor has exercised restraint,” Yakasai said, adding that 37 out of the 38 District Heads had declared allegiance to Sanusi, along with members of Bayero’s own family.
In a move seen as symbolic, Yakasai revealed that Emir Sanusi recently turbaned a nephew of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje as Village Head of Ganduje, bypassing Bayero. “This shows the level of rejection Bayero is facing, even within his own political and familial circles,” Yakasai noted, alleging that Sunday’s incident marked Bayero’s first direct attempt to confront Emir Sanusi’s authority at the palace.
Efforts to reach Bayero’s camp for comments were unsuccessful. Abubakar Kofar-Naisa, spokesperson for the 15th Emir, did not respond to multiple calls. However, Muktar Dahiru, who identified himself as part of Bayero’s convoy, denied claims of violence initiated by the group. He instead blamed the disturbance on what he described as ‘unknown miscreants’ who obstructed their route with weapons, prompting Bayero’s supporters to act in self-defense.
“We encountered a mob at the Kofar-Kudu gate armed with dangerous objects,” Dahiru recounted. “They tried to block our passage, and our people had to push through. There was no attack on palace guards. The police later intervened with tear gas to disperse the crowd.” He affirmed that Emir Bayero continued his journey safely and without injury.
The police have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, and attempts to secure a formal comment on the matter proved abortive as of press time.
The escalating power tussle underscores deep divisions within the Kano Emirate following the controversial reinstatement of Sanusi II, and further raises concerns over security and public order in the historic city.
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