The Kano emirate crisis took a new turn at the weekend after the 16th Emir of Kano, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, accused supporters of the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, of attacking his palace and removing one of the  gates.

The alleged attack occurred at the Kofar-Kudu palace, the residence of Emir Sanusi II.

The clash is said to have occurred on Sunday when Emir Bayero and his large entourage returned from his Mandawori residence.

According to a statement issued by the Kano Emirate Media Team, signed by Sadam Yakasai, Emir Sanusi was out of the palace when the attack occurred.

He said, “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.

“This is not the first time he has passed through the area. He had done that previously after he visited his Mandawari residence. He did that to intimidate the people of the area,” he stated.

Yakasai insisted that the 15th emir, after his deposition by the Kano State government, had relocated and taken over the Nassarawa mini-palace, thereby trespassing without caution.

“He has not challenged his deposition in any court, but he relies on others who did. The governor has shown restraint and statesmanship despite the nuisance caused by the deposed emir and his hoodlums in the neighbourhood of the Government House.

“It should also be noted that the deposed Emir does not have any support from the emirate stakeholders, as 37 of the 38 district heads have pledged allegiance to Emir Sanusi.

“Only one out of the six brothers of Aminu Ado Bayero did not pledge allegiance. Even the nephew of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje was recently turbaned as the Village Head of Ganduje by Emir Muhammad Sanusi II, rather than Aminu Ado Bayero, who claims to be the emir.

“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, very close to the Kano State Government House,” Yakasai alleged.

However, an eyewitness, Muktar Dahiru, said the incident was instead a clash between those he described as ‘unknown miscreants’ at Kofar-Kudu palace and supporters of Bayero.

He stated that the clash started when the miscreants started brandishing dangerous weapons and mounted a barricade to prevent the 15th emir from passing through Kofar-Kudu, after sighting his entourage.

According to him, the miscreants’ action forced the other group to repel them, prompting the police to disperse them with tear gas.

The eyewitness disclosed that Emir Bayero and his entourage were returning from Koki quarters, where they had gone to pay a condolence visit at Alhaji Aminu Dantata’s family house, when they ran into the hoodlums, who blocked their way.

Meanwhile, efforts to get a police report on the situation were futile as the spokesperson of the Kano State police command, Abdullahi Kiyawa, did not pick his calls or respond to a message sent to his line at 6.03 pm.

Similarly, Emir Ado Bayero’s spokesperson, Abubakar Kofar-Naisa, did not answer calls or reply to a message sent to his line – to clarify the allegations concerning the incident – at about 6.06 pm.

The Kano State government has described the incident as unfortunate, stating that innocent citizens were injured during the attack.

The government expressed worry that despite the presence of security personnel at the emir’s palace, the place was still attacked.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, the commissioner for information and internal affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, expressed worry at the incident, adding that it is under control.

“Few people were injured during the incident, but there was no loss of life. The development disturbs the state government, but we call on residents to remain calm and always be peaceful,” Waiya said.

Waiya expressed disappointment at the failure of security operatives on palace guard duty to prevent such a breach since they were positioned at the palace’s entrance.

Meanwhile, it was gathered yesterday that loyalists of Emir Aminu Ado-Bayero were asked to leave the palace where Emir Sanusi is residing.

It was gathered that the affected families said they had been living in the palace for decades, but wondered why they should be asked to leave.

Some residents said they were asked to vacate the palace because of alleged disloyalty to the present occupant.