The Kano State Police Command has reaffirmed its restriction on durbar celebrations and horse-riding activities in public spaces, warning event organisers to comply strictly with the existing directive.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, issued the warning during a briefing for journalists at the command’s headquarters in Bompai, Kano State. The move is intended to ensure that such activities do not disrupt public order or compromise the security of the state.
Organisers of these traditional festivities have been cautioned that the directive remains in force. Any attempt to conduct horse-riding or durbar parades in public thoroughfares in violation of current security protocols will result in immediate police intervention.
Management of public order and security
The decision to restrict these activities comes as the police command seeks to tighten control over large-scale public gatherings and movements. Durbar, a significant cultural parade involving horsemen and large crowds, is a staple of Northern Nigerian tradition, particularly in Kano. However, the scale of these events often presents significant logistical challenges, including crowd control, traffic management, and the potential for sudden security breaches.
By reiterating the ban on durbar and horse-riding activities in public places, the command is signalling a zero-tolerance approach to uncoordinated public displays that could potentially lead to chaos or accidents. The police have identified the movement of large groups of horses through congested urban streets as a specific area of concern for public safety.
The Commissioner’s statement at the Bompai headquarters underscores the command’s current focus on maintaining stability within the state’s major urban centres. While the cultural importance of the durbar is widely recognised, the police have prioritised the prevention of unregulated animal movement and large-scale gatherings in sensitive public zones.
Organisers and traditional groups will now have to navigate these restrictions, which may require shifting such celebrations to more controlled or private environments to avoid conflict with the law. The police command has indicated it will be monitoring public spaces closely to ensure the directive is enforced.
Explore more News stories from Business Elites Africa.
