Bayero’s planned Sallah durbar sparks fresh security concern in Kano

Fresh concerns over public order and security have emerged in Kano following plans by the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, to stage traditional Sallah horse-riding processions during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, a development many residents fear could further inflame tensions surrounding the prolonged Kano emirship dispute now awaiting a final determination by the Supreme Court.

The planned durbar activities were announced on Wednesday by the Sarkin Dawaki Babba and senior councillor in Bayero’s palace, Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, who disclosed that security agencies had not barred the emir from carrying out the traditional ceremonies.

The announcement comes at a delicate period in Kano’s political and traditional landscape, with the legal battle over the Kano Emirate still unresolved and the Supreme Court expected to deliver a definitive judgment in April 2027. The pending verdict is expected to determine the validity of the actions that led to the reinstatement of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the removal of the emirs appointed under the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, including Bayero.

The dispute has remained one of the most contentious issues in Kano politics since the state government repealed the Kano Emirates Council Law of 2019, which had created additional emirates across the state and facilitated the appointment of several first-class emirs. Following the repeal, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano, a move immediately challenged in court by affected parties.

Although lower courts have delivered varying rulings on the matter, the legal contest eventually reached the Supreme Court, whose judgment is now widely anticipated as the final resolution to the crisis.

Against this backdrop, security experts and community leaders have repeatedly cautioned against actions capable of deepening divisions among supporters of the rival emirate camps.

According to Dan Agundi, Bayero will undertake the traditional Hawan Daushe on Thursday and Hawan Nassarawa on Friday as part of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

He explained that Thursday’s procession would begin from the Nassarawa Emir’s Palace and move through parts of the ancient city before returning to the palace, while deliberately avoiding the main Kano Emir’s Palace currently occupied by Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.

“We wrote to the police and they have not said we should not carry out the exercise. Therefore, we are proceeding with the programme peacefully, starting from the Nassarawa Emir’s Palace to Kofar Nassarawa and back,” Dan Agundi said.

He further revealed that Friday’s horse-riding procession would pass through several major roads, including Fagge and Mandawari, where the emir is expected to make a brief stop.
According to him, the route was carefully selected to reduce congestion and manage the anticipated turnout of supporters expected to accompany the emir during the traditional outing.
Dan Agundi insisted that the palace remained committed to ensuring a peaceful celebration and would work closely with security agencies to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
“We have warned our millions of supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding. The durbar will be conducted responsibly and without any disturbance,” he stated.

The planned procession has nonetheless generated debate across Kano, where memories remain fresh of previous security concerns linked to rival claims to the emirship throne. In recent years, security authorities have on several occasions restricted or suspended durbar activities, citing intelligence reports and fears that competing gatherings could trigger unrest.

The annual durbar, one of Kano’s most cherished cultural traditions, attracts thousands of residents and visitors and is regarded as a symbol of the emirate’s rich heritage. However, since the emergence of the emirship dispute, what was once purely a cultural celebration has increasingly become intertwined with the political and legal contest over the traditional institution.

Observers note that with the Supreme Court yet to pronounce on the matter, every major public appearance by either claimant to the throne is likely to attract heightened attention from supporters, political actors and security agencies alike.
Some residents have therefore urged all stakeholders to exercise restraint and allow the judicial process to run its course, warning that actions capable of creating parallel displays of authority could complicate efforts to maintain peace in the state.

Security agencies have repeatedly emphasized their commitment to safeguarding lives and property during the Sallah festivities and have called on residents to cooperate with law enforcement personnel.

As preparations for Eid-el-Kabir gather momentum, attention is now focused on whether authorities will issue further directives regarding the planned horse-riding processions and how the events will unfold in a state where the future of the emirship remains the subject of intense legal scrutiny ahead of the anticipated Supreme Court judgment in April 2027.