THE historic city of Kano witnessed a dramatic escalation in the ongoing emirate crisis on Sunday, as supporters of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, clashed with loyalists of the reinstated 16th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, at the Kofar Kudu palace.
The clash reportedly broke out as Emir Bayero made his way from his residence in Mandawari.
Eyewitnesses say his procession approached Gidan Rumfa, the main palace occupied by Sanusi II, sparking a confrontation that left several guards injured, police vehicles vandalised, and the palace gate forcibly broken open.
The confrontation is the latest episode in the lingering tension following Sanusi’s dramatic reinstatement as Emir after the Kano State Government repealed the 2019 emirate law, which had fragmented the traditional emirate into five and paved the way for Bayero’s appointment.
While legal battles over the legitimacy of the reinstatement are still unfolding in court, both emirs have maintained parallel claims to the throne, Sanusi at the Gidan Rumfa palace and Bayero at the Nasarawa mini-palace, under tight security.
The Kano Emirate Media Team, in a statement signed by spokesperson Sadam Yakasai, accused Bayero’s supporters of deliberately inciting violence by rerouting the procession toward Gidan Rumfa rather than taking the expected route to Nasarawa.
“They broke the gate and attacked the guards, injuring some of them. They smashed police vehicles in the palace,” Yakasai stated.
He further accused Bayero of using provocative routes to assert territorial dominance over the traditional seat of power in an effort to “intimidate Sanusi loyalists and the general public.”
Yakasai also dismissed Bayero’s legitimacy, claiming that 37 out of the 38 district heads in the Kano Emirate have pledged allegiance to Sanusi II.
He cited recent events, including the turbaning of a nephew of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje by Sanusi, as indicators of growing institutional and grassroots support for the reinstated monarch.
“This is the first time deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero is taking his fight directly to Gidan Rumfa,” Yakasai added, describing the confrontation as an unprecedented escalation.
But the Bayero camp quickly rejected these allegations. Muktar Dahiru, a member of Bayero’s entourage, told reporters that the violence was instigated by unknown hoodlums who attempted to block the Emir’s passage near the palace.
“We were returning from a condolence visit to the family of Alhaji Aminu Dantata when we encountered miscreants wielding dangerous weapons,” Dahiru said.
“Our people had to clear the way. The Emir passed safely. No palace guard was injured. The police only intervened with tear gas to disperse the crowd.”
Another supporter, Ayman Ado, also refuted claims that Bayero’s group initiated the clash. He accused Sanusi loyalists of staging an ambush.
“We were moving peacefully. No one in our entourage had weapons, not even sticks. But when we got to Kofar Kudu, thugs with stones attacked us,” he said.
The Kano State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the incident and said that an investigation is currently underway.
“We have heard different narratives and are compiling information. We are studying the situation before we can make any conclusive statements,” Kiyawa said.
Meanwhile, Kano residents are expressing deep concern over the crisis, fearing it could damage the revered legacy of the emirate and disrupt peace in the ancient city.
Ibrahim Sani, a trader at the popular Kofar Wambai Market, described the conflict as “sad and unnecessary.”
“The emirate is a symbol of peace and unity, but now it’s being dragged into political chaos. We, the ordinary people, are the ones suffering,” he said.
Zainab Haruna, a schoolteacher in Gwale, said the violence sends the wrong message to young people.
“This is not what the Kano Emirate stands for. It’s supposed to be a guardian of our values, not a battlefield for political power,” she lamented.
Musa Adamu, a university student in Tarauni, called on both camps to prioritize the city’s stability over personal ambition.
“Whether it’s Sanusi or Bayero, what matters now is peace. The courts should be allowed to decide. This crisis is hurting the people.”
The roots of the crisis date back to 2020, when then-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje dethroned Sanusi II, citing insubordination and administrative issues. In his place, Aminu Ado Bayero, son of Sanusi’s predecessor and uncle, was installed.
In 2024, the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf repealed the law that had fragmented the Kano Emirate and reinstated Sanusi, sparking a legal tug-of-war and an uneasy dual claim to the throne.
As the courts continue to deliberate, Sunday’s events mark a dangerous turning point in what was until now a tense but mostly nonviolent royal standoff.