The Kano State Police Command has issued a ban on all durbar activities in the state ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir festivities. The ban comes in the wake of a crisis in the town over the repeal of the Kano Emirate Council Law 2019, which led to the dethronement of five emirs installed in 2020. The Kano State Assembly replaced the law with a 2024 version, merging the five emirates back into one and reinstating Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.
The ban on durbar activities was announced by the Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, through a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Abdullahi. The ban applies to all parties involved in the dispute and aims to prevent any clashes between supporters of the two claimants to the throne.
The crisis began when the 15th Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, issued a circular inviting district heads to join him at the Gidan Nassarawa palace for the Sallah Durbar celebrations. However, the Commissioner of Police denied receiving a letter from Bayero and called off the durbar activities to maintain peace and order in the town.
The Kano State Police Command has assured the public that adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of the community during the festive period. They have urged worshippers to conduct their normal Eid prayers at designated Eid praying grounds and have called for continued collaboration and cooperation from all stakeholders to create a safer environment.
In a related development, the Federal High Court in Kano State has affirmed its jurisdiction to hear the case brought by Ado Bayero challenging the reinstatement of Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano. The court had previously issued an ex parte order suspending the implementation of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024. The case is set to continue, with the court urging both parties to respect the court order and maintain peace.
Meanwhile, the Global Leader of the Tijjaniyya Islamic Group, Sheikh Muhammad Niasse, has denied a letter circulating that purportedly asked Sanusi to step down as emir. The group has stated that the letter is forged and does not emanate from Sheikh Muhammad Niasse. They have given the perpetrators 24 hours to come forward and explain the origin of the letter, warning that legal action will be taken if they fail to do so. The group has also alerted security agencies to the matter and is determined to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
