The ancient city of Kano is teetering on the edge of unrest as violent clashes between supporters of deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero and reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II have left residents gripped by fear. What began as a political tussle over the emirship has now spilled onto the streets, raising concerns of a deeper crisis in Nigeria’s most populous northern state.
On Sunday, chaos erupted near the Kofar-Kudu palace, a key symbol of Kano’s traditional authority, as rival factions clashed in what each side describes as an unprovoked assault.
The media team of Emir Sanusi II, led by spokesperson Sadam Yakasai, accused Bayero’s supporters of launching a brazen attack on the palace while Sanusi was away. According to Yakasai, the assailants broke through the gates, assaulted palace guards, and vandalized police vehicles in what he called a deliberate act of intimidation.
“This was not a coincidence,” Yakasai asserted. “Emir Bayero deliberately took the route past the palace instead of the proper path from Koki to Nassarawa. His supporters then attacked Gidan Rumfa (the palace). This is a direct provocation.”
Yakasai further alleged that Bayero, who was dethroned by the Kano State government in a controversial move, has been overstepping boundaries by operating from the Nassarawa mini-palace—a move seen as defiance against the state’s authority.
However, an eyewitness present in Bayero’s entourage offered a starkly different version of events. Muhammed Ibrahim, who identified himself as part of Bayero’s convoy, claimed that the skirmish began when armed youths blocked the deposed emir’s path near Kofar-Kudu.
“We were returning from a condolence visit in Koki when we saw hoodlums barricading the road with weapons,” Ibrahim recounted. “Bayero’s supporters had to push them back to clear the way. There was no attack on the palace—just a confrontation with troublemakers.”
Ibrahim denied reports of injured palace guards but confirmed that police intervened with tear gas to disperse the crowd.
At the time of reporting, the Kano State Police Command had not released an official statement, though spokesperson SP Haruna Kiyawa promised an update soon. The lack of a clear narrative from authorities has only deepened anxieties among Kano’s residents, many of whom remember past emirship disputes turning deadly.
Local traders near the palace reported shutting down businesses early, fearing reprisal attacks. “Nobody knows who will strike next,” said Musa Abdullahi, a shop owner near Kofar-Kudu. “We are hearing different stories, and the tension is unbearable.”
The conflict traces back to the Kano State government’s decision to reinstate Sanusi, a former Central Bank governor who was deposed in 2020, while removing Bayero. The move, seen by many as politically motivated, has reignited long-standing rivalries within the emirate’s aristocratic circles.
Analysts warn that if the crisis is not contained, it could escalate beyond the emirate, drawing in political factions and even security forces. “Kano has always been a flashpoint,” said political commentator Aisha Bello. “When two emirs claim legitimacy, and their supporters take to the streets, the state is playing with fire.”
With both camps trading accusations and no clear resolution in sight, Kano remains on edge. The state government has yet to make a definitive statement, while traditional leaders are calling for calm.
For now, the people of Kano can only wait hoping that the emirs’ feud does not plunge the city into deeper turmoil.
