The prolonged crisis surrounding the Kano Emirate took a fresh turn on Sunday as supporters of the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, allegedly launched an attack on the Kofar-Kudu palace, the official residence of the 16th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
According to a statement released by the Kano Emirate Media Team and signed by Sadam Yakasai, the violence occurred when Emir Bayero and his convoy were returning from his Mandawori residence. Yakasai claimed the attack was carried out while Emir Sanusi was not in the palace.
“They broke the gate and attacked the guards, injuring some of them. They smashed the 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 stated.
He accused the deposed Emir of repeatedly using the route as a show of force and intimidation. Yakasai also alleged that Bayero had taken over the Nassarawa mini-palace without legal challenge to his removal, while 37 out of 38 District Heads had pledged allegiance to Sanusi.
“This is the first time deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero is taking his fight directly to Gidan Rumfa while remaining in his heavily secured domain in Nassarawa Palace,” the statement added.Efforts to get a response from Bayero’s camp were unsuccessful, as calls to his spokesperson, Abubakar Kofar-Naisa, went unanswered.
However, an eyewitness, Muktar Dahiru, who was part of Bayero’s entourage, gave a different account. He said the violence was sparked by unknown miscreants who blocked the road at Kofar-Kudu, armed with dangerous weapons, in an attempt to stop the convoy.
“We were coming from Koki after a condolence visit and heading back to Nassarawa palace. At Kofar-Kudu, some hoodlums tried to block our way. Emir Bayero’s supporters confronted them, cleared the path, and the Emir passed through safely,” Dahiru explained.
He added that the police intervened by dispersing the crowd with tear gas and insisted he did not witness any injuries to palace guards.Attempts to obtain further information from the police regarding the incident were unsuccessful.
Source : https://guardian.ng/
