On Friday morning, barely 10 hours after Justice M T Liman’s landmark ruling over which each of the two contenders to the emir throne claimed victory, the state government mobilized dozens of bulldozers to bring down the palace where Bayero resides with his retinue of aides.
The federal forces on guard at Nasarawa palace thwarted the state government’s plan and forced the invaders, with their heavy equipment, to beat a fast retreat at the wee hours of Friday.
Sunday Independent learned that the development escalated security concerns at the facility, culminating in the deployment of additional troops, personnel, and equipment to guarantee the safety of the occupant of the mini palace.
All roads leading to the Nasarawa palace were, on Friday, cordoned forcing motorists plying the affected busy roads to use alternative routes.
A visit by Sunday Independent to the contentious Royal facility revealed that the situation on the ground for the Sanusi and state government’s supporters was as difficult as the proverbial camel passing through the eye of a needle.
The atmosphere around the palace was tense and charged. The security operatives left nothing to chance, and from afar one could see clearly the zeal to dismantle anything that appeared to compromise the security of the palace.
However, the security to the palace was relaxed for Friday worshippers later in the afternoon for hundreds of Muslim faithful that joined Bayero for the prayers.
But Barrister Haruna Dederi, Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, had at a special news conference on Thursday night directed the police to evict Aminu Ado Bayero to pave way for renovations.
Dederi had hinted that the “Kano State government has directed the State Commissioner of Police to remove the deposed emir from the government property where he is trespassing as government has already concluded arrangements for the general reconstruction and renovation of the property, including the demolishing and reconstruction of the dilapidated wall fence, with immediate effect.”
However, the outgoing Commissioner of Police, AIG Ussaini Gumel, openly ignored the Chief Security Officer of the state, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s order on the grounds that the issue was still subject of litigation.
The heavy presence of federal forces appeared to have compromised the security of the ancient city as violent clashes amongst street urchins have been reported in a number of densely populated quarters within Kano metropolis over the last 48 hours.
During that period, there have been reported cases of mayhem around Dala, Doroyi, Jaeen – all in Kano metropolis, as hoodlums have been having a field day.
A resident, Umar Ado of Gydadi Gyadi quarters, insinuated that there may be a dangerous plot to run down the city.
He said: “I am convinced that there is a plot to burn down Kano. Some of us see this emirate tussle as family feud and have maintained neutrality, but now streets urchins have taken control without response from anyone in a city where orders from the governor, a supposed chief security officer, are ignored by security officials.”
Checks at the Emir’s palace at Kofar Kudu indicate that thousands of volunteers were now providing security cover for Sanusi II, with few federal forces.
Following this development, there have been widespread cases of robbery and gang fights within the Kano metropolis, amid complaints by residents.
On the other hand, the heavy presence of federal troops, including the army, the police, the DSS, and Civil Defense Corps, at the Nasarawa palace, less than 500 metres to the Kano Government House, has fuelled the speculation that the Federal Government has taken side in the emirate dispute.
Speaking on the Kano situation, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso accused the Federal Government of a purported plot to compromised the city’s security, triggering bloodshed to enable them impose a state of emergency.
Kwankwaso, who has a cult-like followership in the city, warned of dire consequences for anyone to exploit security options to sacrifice the elected civilian governor of the state.
He said in a viral video that “we’ll resist their evil machinations, and we are ready to sacrifice our lives for Kano” amid cheers from thousands of his supporters.
Sequel to the emerging development, the Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, on Saturday, shortly after the State Executive Council meeting, directed security agencies to restore order to various quarters within the metropolis.
