By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
A coalition of civil society organisations in Kano has raised alarm over what it described as a dangerous slide into lawlessness, following a violent attack on the palace of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, which left multiple people injured and government property destroyed.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday evening near Kofar Kudu, has further deepened tensions in the ancient city, already grappling with a royal power tussle between supporters of reinstated Emir Sanusi II and his dethroned predecessor, Aminu Ado Bayero.
For 27-year-old Yunusa Babba, a palace marshal, it was a day that began with routine duties and ended in chaos.
“I was just doing my job when we saw the crowd coming. Then it turned violent. I was hit with a machete and everything went dark,” he recounted from his hospital bed in Kano.
Babba is one of several victims, including palace guard Maigoma Danagundi and Special Constabulary Officer Murtala Muhammad, injured when suspected supporters of Ado Bayero allegedly attacked the palace convoy, damaging property and carting away police gear—including camouflage uniforms, boots, and a bullet magazine.
Now, a coalition of eight civil society organisations is calling out the Kano State Police Command for what they termed a “deafening silence” and slow response nearly 48 hours after the attack.
In a joint statement issued Monday, CSO leaders, including Mustapha Abdullahi of Kano Digital Media Rangers and Comrade Salisu Gambo from Youth Mobilisation by Media, described the attack as an intentional act “by unpatriotic elements seeking to destabilise the peace Kano has enjoyed.”
According to the group, the violence was allegedly triggered when Aminu Ado Bayero’s convoy diverted from its regular route to Mandawari and deliberately passed in front of Emir Sanusi’s palace after a condolence visit to the home of late business mogul, Alhaji Aminu Dantata.
Their statement detailed the destruction:
Three police Hilux vans vandalised
Motorcycles of police and palace security damaged
The main palace gate and security post destroyed
Police kits and weapons stolen, posing a “serious security risk”
In response to mounting public pressure, police spokesperson SP Abdullahi Haruna confirmed the arrest of four suspects, now in custody pending investigation. He said law enforcement is taking the matter seriously and urged the public to remain calm.
But civic groups say that isn’t enough.
“This isn’t just palace property—we are talking about stolen police gear, public disorder, and injuries. We want full investigations, arrests of the masterminds, and the recovery of the missing arms,” the CSOs demanded.
The attack is the latest flashpoint in the unfolding traditional leadership crisis in Kano, following the state government’s reversal of the 2019 emirate law that split the old Kano emirate into five, and the controversial reinstatement of Emir Sanusi II by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
For many Kano residents, the palace is more than just a building—it is the soul of a proud heritage. Any violence in or around it stirs deep emotions.
Amina Shehu, a mother of two living near the palace, expressed her worry. “We’ve never seen this kind of tension before. This is not politics; this is our tradition. The palace must be protected.”
The CSOs concluded their statement with a stark warning: “If the police remain silent, they will only embolden those who seek to disrupt peace in Kano. Now is the time to act.”
As tensions simmer, all eyes are on security agencies, traditional leaders, and political actors to de-escalate the crisis before it spirals beyond control. For a city that prides itself on history and honour, restoring order around the throne has never been more urgent.