Sanusi, Bayero supporters clash at Kano palace

Sanusi, Bayero supporters clash at Kano palace

Supporters of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, and those of the reinstated 16th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, clashed on Sunday at the Kofar Kudu palace.

The incident occurred as Emir Bayero returned from his Mandawari residence.

During the clash, the palace gate was reportedly broken, guards were attacked and injured, and police vehicles within the palace premises were vandalised.

Tensions within the Kano Emirate have remained high following the state government’s decision to reinstate Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.

The reinstatement came after the review of the emirate law, which had created four additional emirates.

The move has been challenged in court, with Aminu Ado Bayero refusing to relinquish his claim to the throne. He continues to occupy the Nasarawa Palace under a heavy security presence.

Civil society groups and elder statesmen have called for restraint from both factions, urging them to remain calm and await the outcome of ongoing judicial proceedings.

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A statement by the Kano Emirate Media Team, signed by Sadam Yakasai, alleged that Bayero’s supporters “unleashed mayhem” at the palace in the absence of Emir Sanusi, who was reportedly away at the time.

“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 accused Emir Bayero of consistently using such routes to intimidate Sanusi’s loyalists and the general public, despite relocating to and taking control of the Nassarawa 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,” Yakasai said.

He further said only one of Bayero’s six brothers failed to recognise Sanusi’s reinstatement and cited the turbaning of the nephew of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje as village head of Ganduje by Emir Sanusi as proof of growing institutional legitimacy.

“This is the first time deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero is taking his fight directly to Gidan Rumfa,” Yakasai said.

Sanusi, Bayero supporters clash at Kano palace