CSOs petition police over alleged attack on Kano Emir’s palace

Some Civil Society Organisations in Kano have petitioned the police over an alleged attack on Emir of Kano’s palace.

The palace was said to have come under attack on Sunday evening when a convoy of the 15^th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, was returning from the residence of late elder statesman, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, where he paid a condolence visit.

The group, in a statement, alleged that Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero abandoned the usual route to his residence at Mandawari and decided to pass through Kabara in front of the Kano Emir’s Palace, hence the attack on the Palace by some elements allegedly linked to the 15th Emir’s entourage.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Kano Digital Media Rangers: Mustapha Abdullahi, Youth Mobilisation by Media Salisu Gambo, and the Northern Youth Assembly: Alh. Suleiman Idris and One Voice Development Initiative, Mal Abdulkadir Abubakar.

Others were Beyond Border Alliance, Aisha Muhd Shettima, Kano First Forum: Barr. Badamasi Gandu, Abbas Abdullahi, Convener of One Kano Agenda, Barr. Mukhtar Musa.

It alleged that the palace’s main iron gate was vandalized, and police security posts were also destroyed.

‘’A full set of police camouflage uniforms, a pair of police security boots, and a bullet magazine were stolen,’’ the statement said.

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However, an eyewitness to the incident and member of Bayero’s entourage, Muktar Dahiru, refuted the claims, insisting the clash, rather than an attack, was between ‘unknown miscreants’ at Kofar Kudu Palace and Bayero’s supporters.

Dahiru said: “I was on the entourage of the Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, at the time of the incident. We were actually coming from Koki quarters after a condolence visit to the family of Aminu Dantata.“While returning to the Nassarawa Palace through Kofar Kudu, we saw some hoodlums blocking the road in front of the palace. They were armed with dangerous weapons. At that point, the supporters of Emir Bayero confronted them to clear the way. They succeeded, and Emir Bayero made his way through unhurt.”

Meanwhile, the Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, who confirmed the altercation, said investigations were ongoing over the issue.

“We have heard different narratives and are compiling information. We are studying the situation before we can make any conclusive statements,” he said.