In an unexpected turn of events, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and armed police personnel surrounded the palace of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II in Kofar Kudu, Kano, on Friday, December 6, 2024. The heavy security presence barred the Emir from attending a royal event scheduled in Bichi Local Government Area.
The Emir was set to present the staff of office to the newly appointed District Head of Bichi, but the intervention of security operatives effectively confined him to the palace. Eyewitnesses reported that armored personnel carriers blocked the palace gates, preventing entry and exit.
The situation escalated further when a delegation from the Kano State Government, led by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, was denied access to the palace. Reports suggest that the blockade may be linked to ongoing political tensions following the Emir’s reinstatement earlier this year.
Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was deposed in 2020, regained his throne in May 2024 after the Kano State Government dissolved the additional emirate councils established in 2019. The move restored the historical Kano Emirate structure, but it has also reignited controversies and rivalries within the state’s traditional and political systems.
The latest developments have sparked widespread concerns about the relationship between the Kano State Government and the Emirate Council, with many questioning the underlying motives behind the security measures. Efforts to reach both the state government and security agencies for comments proved futile at the time of filing this report.
As the situation unfolds, citizens and stakeholders are calling for dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the brewing crisis.
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