They broke the gate and attacked the guards, injuring some of them. They smashed the police vehicles in the palace,” Yakasai alleged

By Sodiq Oluwaremilekun

A fresh wave of fear has gripped Kano residents amid the escalating power tussle between the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, and the 16th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, as supporters of both traditional rulers clashed violently on Sunday near the Kofar-Kudu palace.

According to a statement released on Monday by the Kano Emirate Media Team, signed by Sadam Yakasai, the altercation erupted when supporters of Emir Aminu Ado Bayero allegedly attacked the palace of Emir Sanusi while he was away, damaging property and injuring palace guards.

“They broke the gate and attacked the guards, injuring some of them. They smashed the police vehicles in the palace,” Yakasai alleged.

Yakasai further accused Emir Bayero of deliberately choosing to pass through the Emir’s palace road rather than the usual route from Koki to Nassarawa, claiming it was an act of provocation intended to intimidate the community around Gidan Rumfa.

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

He added that since his deposition by the Kano State Government, Emir Bayero has been residing at the Nassarawa mini-palace but has now “taken his fight directly to Gidan Rumfa.”

Efforts by journalists to reach Abubakar Kofar-Naisa, spokesperson for Emir Bayero, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone went unanswered.

However, a contrasting account emerged from an eyewitness, Muhammed Ibrahim, who identified himself as part of Emir Bayero’s entourage.

He denied allegations of an attack on Emir Sanusi’s palace, insisting the incident was a confrontation with “unknown miscreants” who attempted to block the Emir’s passage.

“I was on the entourage of the Emir of Kano, Alh. Aminu Bayero, at the time the incident occurred. We were coming from Koki quarters on a condolence visit to Alhaji Aminu Dantata’s family house. While returning to Nassarawa Palace through Kofar-Kudu, we saw some hoodlums blocking the road in front of the palace,” Ibrahim said.

“They were with dangerous weapons. At that point, the supporters of Emir Bayero had to confront them to clear the way, and Emir Bayero made his way unhurt,” he added.

Ibrahim refuted claims that palace guards were injured, describing the incident as a scuffle triggered by unknown attackers and quickly contained by the intervention of police officers, who dispersed the crowd with tear gas.

Meanwhile, the Kano State Police Command said it is preparing an official statement on the incident.

Police spokesperson SP Haruna Kiyawa told the Nigerian Tribune: “I am right now working on a statement in respect of the incident.”

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