The police have barricaded the palace of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, preventing him from attending a royal ceremony in Bichi Local Government.

Part of Mr Sanusi’s schedule at the royal event was to present a staff of office to Munir Sanusi, the newly-appointed Wamban Kano, and escort him to his district posting in Bichi palace.

Reports said the armed security officers also surrounded the venue of the event and directed village and ward heads to leave the premises.

The state police command’s spokesperson, Haruka Abdullahi, did not return calls or respond to messages seeking clarification about the siege laid by armed operatives at both locations.

However, a source explained to News Point that the armed operatives insisted that Mr Sanusi remained indoors as they surrounded the palace gates in armoured personnel carrier (APC) vehicles.

“The Emir has been on the phone and is trying to find out what is going on,” said the source, who said the operatives also blocked a delegation sent by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from entering the palace.

However, the LG council chair, Hamza Mai Fata, in a statement signed by the council’s spokesperson, Tasiu Jibo Dawanau, announced a postponement of the royal ceremony and appealed to residents to remain law-abiding.

Although the reason for barricading the palace remains unclear, the development is not unconnected to the emirship tussle between Mr Sanusi and Ado Bayero, the former emir of Kano, over the rights to the throne. The case is being heard at the Federal High Court, State High Court and the Appeal Court.

Mr Bayoro, the 15th Kano emir, is challenging his removal from the throne after Governor Yusuf signed the new emirate law in May 2024 that outlawed the Bichi, Gaya, Rano and Karaye emirates and installed Mr Sanusi as the 16th Kano emir.