A visit by an emissary of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, to the palace of the deposed Emir of Rano sparked a violent clash in Kano State on Wednesday. The incident unfolded in the Rano Local Government Area, leading to chaos and widespread unrest.
According to residents, the palace had been occupied by suspected armed thugs several days before the arrival of Emir Sanusi’s emissary. This occupation created an atmosphere of tension and unease within the community.
The situation escalated when these thugs reportedly clashed with local residents who were opposed to the emissary’s visit. Eyewitness Kabir Abdullahi Rano recounted that the violence quickly spread throughout the town, causing significant damage to vehicles and property.
“It was curious to see armed thugs around the palace three days ahead of the visit, despite the presence of conventional guards. It created tension in the town because people didn’t understand their motive or mission,” Rano explained.
The unrest reached a boiling point on Tuesday when local youths mobilized to prevent the council chairman and the emir’s envoy from entering the palace. In response, the thugs emerged from the palace and forcefully dispersed the youths. However, after a brief period of calm, the youths regrouped, leading to widespread violence that forced the council chairman, Professor Dahiru Yakubu, and the emir’s envoy to flee the town.
Efforts to obtain a statement from the Kano State Police Command were unsuccessful. The command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, did not respond to multiple phone calls or a text message sent to his mobile phone.
As the town grapples with the aftermath of the violence, questions remain about the presence of armed thugs and the motives behind their actions, leaving residents and officials alike seeking answers.
PIONEER NEWS 