Security Forces Shut Down Kano Emir’s Palace

Early on Friday, security teams from the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Nigeria Police closed the entrance to the palace of the Emir of Kano. Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, who lives in the old part of Kano, was stopped from leaving.

The blockade was set up to prevent the Emir from going to a royal event in Bichi Local Government Area, where he was supposed to give a staff of office to the new District Head. Bichi, previously made into an emirate by former Governor Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, lost this status when the current Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, changed the law earlier in the year.

Inside sources reported that Emir Sanusi II was ordered to stay inside, surrounded by heavily armed guards, while armoured vehicles blocked the palace doors. This action has caused a lot of talks, especially because it seems related to ongoing political issues about changes in the emirate’s leadership.

Government and Legal Involvement

A team from Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf was also stopped by security from entering the palace. The event location in Bichi was similarly secured. The conflict might be linked to recent changes where the previous emir was removed, and Muhammadu Sanusi II was put in his place. These changes are being challenged in several courts, including the Federal High Court, State High Court, and the Appeal Court.

In May 2024, Governor Yusuf passed a new law that ended the status of five emirates including Kano, Bichi, Gaya, Rano, and Karaye, deepening the ongoing disputes in the state’s management of its emirates.