The residence of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, in the Nasarawa area of Kano State remains sealed, a day after police took control of the premises. The situation has heightened political tension in the state, as security operatives maintain a strong presence in the area.
On Wednesday morning, residents of Kano woke up to a heavy deployment of security personnel along the road leading to the Kano Government House, which is close to Emir Bayero’s residence. Security forces also blocked all access points to the residence, causing serious traffic congestion, particularly in the Nasarawa area.
A statement from the Kano State Police Command explained that the deployment was based on intelligence reports suggesting that certain individuals were planning to incite violence in the state. The police further confirmed the arrest of 17 suspects linked to the alleged plot.
“Following credible intelligence reports of a planned violent protest by some individuals, the Command, in collaboration with other security agencies, has deployed personnel and assets to strategic locations within Kano Metropolis to prevent the protest and ensure public safety,” the statement read.
The police urged residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity, noting that their presence was aimed at preventing unrest.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that tension began building as early as Tuesday night when videos surfaced on social media alleging that members of the Kwankwasiyya movement—supporters of former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso—were planning a demonstration against President Bola Tinubu’s involvement in Kano’s affairs. The protest was allegedly aimed at challenging the Federal Government’s role in the ongoing dispute over the Kano Emirate.
One Facebook user, Junaidu Aminu Kilishi, posted a video warning Emir Bayero’s supporters about a potential attack.
“There is a major disaster being planned by these Kwankwasiyya members. They are planning violence under the guise of a protest. Tomorrow, if God allows, they will remove their red caps and pretend to be ordinary citizens. They will march through Nasarawa Gate to the Government House, chanting insults against the President, accusing him of destabilizing Kano and backing Emir Aminu Ado Bayero,” Kilishi claimed.
As of now, neither the Kwankwasiyya movement nor the Kano State Government has responded to the allegations. However, security personnel remain stationed along the road to the Government House. While one side of the road has been reopened for returning traffic, the lane leading to Emir Bayero’s residence remains blocked.
The crisis over the Kano Emirate dates back to 2019 when former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje created four new emirates—Rano, Karaye, Gaya, and Bichi—effectively reducing the influence of the Kano Emirate. In 2020, Ganduje dethroned the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, citing allegations of financial mismanagement and political interference.
However, after the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) took over Kano’s leadership in 2024 under Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the government reversed Ganduje’s decision. It abolished the newly created emirates and reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano. This move has since sparked a political and legal battle over who rightfully holds the throne.
Currently, two Emirs—Muhammadu Sanusi II and Aminu Ado Bayero—are laying claim to the position, with the Kano State Government supporting Sanusi while the Federal Government is accused of backing Bayero.
