A violent clash erupted in Kano State on Monday between supporters of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and his rival, the 15th Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, amid the ongoing emirship tussle rocking the Kano Emirate Council.
The incident occurred as Emir Bayero returned from a condolence visit to the family of the late Aminu Dantata. His convoy passed near the Kofar Kudu Palace—currently occupied by Sanusi—sparking confrontation between the opposing camps.
In a statement from Sadam Yakasai on behalf of the Kano Emirate Media Team, Bayero’s supporters were accused of forcibly breaching the palace’s security by breaking the gate, attacking palace guards, injuring some, and vandalising police vehicles. Yakasai described the move as a “deliberate act of intimidation” and “clear aggression,” accusing Bayero of attempting to undermine the authority of the current Emir.
However, Bayero’s aide, Muktar Dahiru, countered the allegations, claiming the clash was instigated by unidentified miscreants outside the palace. He said Bayero’s supporters were merely trying to clear the path when they encountered armed thugs. Dahiru confirmed that police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and allow Bayero safe passage.
The Kano State Police Command, through its spokesperson SP Abdullahi Haruna, confirmed an altercation did occur. The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has established a panel to investigate the clash and determine the root cause.
The altercation underscores deepening divisions in the emirship saga, with tensions threatening to spill over into further violence if not swiftly addressed.
