Emir’s palace siege: Police cite ‘order from above,’ says state government
Tamarauemi Ebimini
The Kano State Government has called on residents to remain peaceful following the deployment of armed security personnel to the Emir’s palace on Friday.
The Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Bichi, made the call while speaking in Hausa language on Freedom Radio, Kano, on Friday.
“We were surprised when we woke up this morning to hear that armed policemen have rounded up the Kano Emir’s palace without any breach of peace or any reason to warrant such action,” he said.
He said the action of the security operatives was nothing but a deliberate attempt to cause trouble or invite trouble in the state.
Bichi, who was reacting to the incident, said when contacted, the police authorities in the state said they were acting on the orders from above.
“Who will give such directives from above? We know it is only the Federal Government that can give the directive to the police.
“We suspect there are some people who are conniving with Abuja to cause a crisis in Kano which will not be acceptable by the Kano State Government,” Bichi said.
The deployment of armed security personnel to the Kano Emir’s Palace at Kofar Kudu on Friday created widespread tension in the city.
The operatives restricted movement in and out of the palace, leaving many traditional rulers and titleholders stranded.
The security measures coincided with Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II’s plans to accompany Alhaji Munir Sanusi, the newly appointed Wamban Kano, to his district in Bichi.
Both the Kano Emir’s and Bichi Emir’s palaces were placed under tight surveillance, sparking public concern.
Efforts to obtain clarity from the Kano State Police Command were unsuccessful.
The SSG debunked the rumour being peddled that there may be a crisis in Bichi if Emir Sanusi goes there, adding that the people of Bichi are peace-loving and would never do anything that could breach the existing peace in the area.
According to him, the newly appointed District Head is from Bichi and his late father, Emir of Kano, late Muhammadu Sanusi I was also a District Head of Bichi.
“We shall wait for the Emir to fix another date when we will mobilise people to accompany him (Emir) to Bichi with the new District Head,” Bichi added.
