A renewed sense of tension has enveloped Kano as supporters of the 15th Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, and the reinstated 16th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, clashed violently near the Kofar-Kudu palace on Sunday, July 6, 2025.
The confrontation, rooted in the ongoing emirship dispute, turned violent when, according to a statement by the Kano Emirate Media Team, loyalists of Emir Bayero allegedly stormed Emir Sanusi’s palace while he was absent. The statement, signed by Sadam Yakasai, accused Bayero’s supporters of damaging property, assaulting palace guards, and vandalizing police vehicles stationed at the palace.
“They forcefully broke the gate, assaulted the guards, and vandalized police vehicles within the premises,” Yakasai alleged.
Yakasai further claimed the violence was instigated by Emir Bayero’s decision to intentionally divert his convoy through the palace road, rather than using his usual route from Koki to the Nassarawa mini-palace. He described the act as a provocation aimed at intimidating the residents around Gidan Rumfa.
“This is not the first time he’s done this. After visiting his Mandawari residence previously, he took the same route, clearly intending to provoke and unsettle the community,” Yakasai added.
Since his dethronement by the Kano State Government in 2024, Emir Bayero has been residing at the Nassarawa mini-palace. Yakasai believes Sunday’s incident shows he has now “taken the fight directly to Gidan Rumfa.”
Attempts to reach Abubakar Kofar-Naisa, spokesperson for Emir Bayero, were unsuccessful, as his phone calls went unanswered.
However, an alternate version of the incident was presented by eyewitness Muhammed Ibrahim, a member of Bayero’s entourage. Ibrahim denied any attack on Emir Sanusi’s palace, instead describing a confrontation with “unknown miscreants” who attempted to block their route.
“I was in the Emir’s convoy returning from a condolence visit to Alhaji Aminu Dantata’s family when we encountered hoodlums obstructing the road near the palace,” he said.
“They were armed with dangerous weapons. Supporters of Emir Bayero engaged them to clear the road, allowing the Emir to pass through safely,” Ibrahim explained. He also refuted claims that palace guards were injured, stating the scuffle was quickly brought under control by police who used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Police Command has announced that 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.”
The emirship dispute reignited in May 2024, when Governor Abba Yusuf reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir during a ceremony at the Kano Government House. This followed the Kano State House of Assembly’s repeal of the 2020 law introduced by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, which had led to Sanusi’s removal and exile, and ultimately paved the way for Bayero’s dethronement.
