The police have taken over the security of the main palace of the Emir of Kano, where local hunters had guarded the reinstated Lamido Sanusi.
PREMIUM TIMES reported how the hunters, known locally as ‘Yan Tauri’, were drawn from across the state and deployed to the palace. This followed a rumour that federal authorities planned to relocate Aminu Ado-Bayero amidst the emirship tussle.
Mr Ado-Bayero, who was removed by the state government last month, is guarded by federal security agents at the Nasarawa mini palace.
On Sunday it was observed that a team of security agents taking over the main emir’s palace, the Gidan Rumfa, where the hunters were playing card games and carrying out other activities.
The police spokesperson in the state, Haruna Kiyawa, could not be immediately reached Sunday evening to comment on the development. But a security source at the palace told PREMIUM TIMES they have sacked the hunters.
“Did you need me to tell you that they (hunters) are no longer here? You can see it yourself; everyone has found his way”, a police officer at the palace said.
Residents of the area also told our reporter that the hunters withdrew from the palace between Saturday and Sunday morning following a court ruling that invalidated the reappointment of Mr Sanusi as emir on Thursday.
“Some of them left behind their machetes to conceal their identity after they were asked to vacate the palace or face the wrath of the security agents”, one of the residents said.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the court voided Mr Sanusi reappointment and asked the state government to halt the implementation of the Kano Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024.
The judge, Abdullahi Liman, ruled that the reappointment of Mr Sanusi was null and void because the government disobeyed the court’s earlier order restraining it from taking further action on the new emirate council law of the state.