Army Clarifies Role in Kano Emirate Tussle: Law and Order is Our Priority

The Nigerian Army has denied any involvement in the Kano State emirate tussle.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Sunday said the Army had no involvement in the tussle and its personnel were not involved in enforcing any court order.

He said contrary to insinuations by the Kano State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association “troops of the Nigerian Army have not been involved in the Kano State emirate tussle and are not involved in enforcing any court order. ”

He noted that the service steps taken were to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

Onyema said, “They have only taken proactive steps to checkmate any possible breakdown or breach of the security that may be occasioned by the Kano Emirship tussle.

“The issue of paramount concern to the Nigerian Army and other security agencies is the prevention of the breakdown of law and order in the state, which could be taken advantage of by adversarial non-state actors.”

He noted that the military would wade into the matter when the police could no longer handle the security situation in the state.

“All the Army is doing at this stage is to monitor the situation as it unfolds and be on standby in the event of any escalation that could threaten the security of the state and the region in general,” he added.

The emirate tussle began when Aminu Ado-Bayero was dethroned on Thursday by the governor of the state, Abba Yusuf, and Muhammadu Sanusi II was reappointed as the 16th Emir of Kano on Friday.

Ado-Bayero was deposed following the passage of the Kano State Emirate Councils Amendment Bill by the House of Assembly which the governor accented to.

Also, the additional four emirate councils created under the immediate-past governor, Abdullahi Ganduje were abolished and the monarchs were dethroned.

As a result of the development,
Ado-Bayero’s whereabouts had been unknown since he was dethroned but the media was awash of the news of his return to the state on Saturday. His return was reported to have raised tension in the state.

Meanwhile, the Kano Branch of the NBA condemned the use of men of the Nigerian Army to enforce court orders involving the tussle.