Group Flays Police Invitation Of Emir Of Kano, Sanusi

By Ayodele Oni

Police invitation to the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, has generated reactions among prominent Nigerians with some condemning the action.

The invitation by the police was dated April 4, 2025 and signed by Olajide Rufus Ibitoye, Commissioner of Police (OPS) on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Force Intelligence Department, and  surfaced in public on Saturday.

According to CP Ibitoye, the Emir was invited in relation to an incident in the ancient city during the recent Sallah celebration.

It stated: “I have the directives of the Inspector General of Police through the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department (FID) to invite you for an investigative meeting with regards to an incident that occurred during the Sallah celebration within your domain.”

The Assembly for the Preservation of Traditional Institutions in Nigeria described the invitation extended to the Emir of Kano, as suspicious.

National Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Yahya Nda Musa pointed out that the matter in question is already being handled by the Kano state command of the Nigeria Police.

“The Assembly for the Preservation of Traditional Institutions in Nigeria therefore, received the content of this letter with utter surprise, disbelief and suspicion based on the fact that the only known incident during the Sallah celebration was an attack on the Emir’s entourage by some miscreants on his way back to the palace along Kofar Wambai after the Eid prayer at the Kofar Mata Eid prayer ground.

“In the wake of the attack on the Emir’s entourage, which was declared as assassination attempt on Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Police announced the arrest of one Sagiru Usman, a 20 year old of Sharifai Quarters as one of the suspected attackers of the Emir’s entourage which led to the death of one Surajo Rabiu, a vigilante member from Sabon Titi in Jaba area of the state.

“In the same vein, the Kano Police Command launched investigation into the incident and invited Shamakin Kano, Alhaji Isyaku Wada, the Chief guard of the Emir for questioning over the security breach.

“Therefore, it is confusing and unimaginable that despite the ongoing investigation by the Kano State Command of the Nigeria Police, in what appears as a sudden turn of events, the Police high Command in Abuja extended an invitation to the Emir in connection to the same matter that is being investigated by the state command of the Police Force. This is curious.

“Let it be known that we are not unmindful or questioning the authority of the Police to extend invitation to any Nigerian irrespective of his or her status, however, we are constrained to express our suspicion and express our curiosity based on the fact that there has been lingering dispute over the stool of the Kano Emir which was orchestrated by some trouble makers.

“We are of the view that, this invitation to Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II by the Police high command, is an affront on our revered traditional institution whose custodian and identity is the Emir and therefore call on the Police to refrain from being used by some selfish people whose known trade is causing trouble and are hell bent on destabilizing Kano.

“Though, we are happy that, despite earlier alarm that was raised on the eve of the Sallah for an impending security threat, the occasion ended peacefully with citizens going about their lawful business.

“However, we are concerned that this invitation of the Police to the Emir is a recipe for unrest due to the fact the Emir is held in high esteem by his subjects and therefore such an invitation can be seen as desecration of the revered institution and therefore reprehensible on the part of his subjects.”