By Tijjani Sarki

The invitation extended to the Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, by the Police Headquarters in Abuja for an investigative meeting raises several critical concerns that warrant immediate attention. This follows the tragic incident of attack on the Emir on Sallah day, March 30, 2025, which led to the death of one person and many others injured. While it is important to recognize the diligent efforts of the Kano State Police Command, which is actively investigating the incident, the Abuja invitation raises questions about whether such interference might inadvertently disrupt and undermine local investigative efforts.

The Ongoing Investigation by the Kano State Police Command

On April 2, 2025, Kano’s Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, established an 8-member Special Investigation Panel (SIP) to probe the assassination attempt on Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II after the Eid prayers. The panel’s mandate includes investigating the root causes of this tragic event and addressing any alleged violations of the Kano State Police Command’s ban on Durbar during the Sallah celebrations.

The Kano Police have made significant inroads in their investigation, arresting two individuals Usman Sagiru, aged 20, and Nasir Idris, aged 35 in connection with the crime. While the final reports are being awaited, it is evident that the investigation is progressing smoothly within the local jurisdiction, with the Kano Police having the necessary resources, context, and expertise to handle the case effectively.

The Invitation from Police Headquarters: A Cause for Concern

It is, therefore, troubling that the Police Headquarters in Abuja has issued an invitation to the Emir of Kano to attend an investigative meeting scheduled for April 8, 2025. The invitation, dated April 4, 2025, requests the Emir’s presence at the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja, raising several issues regarding the necessity and purpose of such an interference.

Potential Disruption to Local Investigations

A primary concern surrounding this invitation is its potential to undermine the ongoing efforts of the Kano State Police Command. The Special Investigation Panel was specifically created to address the matter within the state, where the incident occurred and where the local authorities possess intimate knowledge of the region and its dynamics. The involvement of the Police high command, Abuja could lead to confusion, duplication of efforts, or delays in the investigation’s progress.

Further interference, without clear coordination, risks causing conflicting investigations, which could not only lead to inefficiencies but also undermine the clarity of the process.

Lack of Clear Justification for the Invitation

The invitation letter from the Police Headquarters in Abuja describes the meeting as an “investigation meeting” but fails to specify the Emir’s exact role or the nature of his involvement. The letter asks the Emir to travel to Abuja, an impractical distance from Kano on April 8, 2025. Given that the incident occurred within the Emir’s jurisdiction, and considering the local authorities are already managing the case, it remains unclear why the FHQ feels it is necessary to summon the Emir for an in-person meeting.

To further complicate matters, the Kano Police Command has already invited the Shamakin Kano, Alhaji Wada Isyaku the senior aide responsible for managing palace affairs for questioning about his

alleged defiance of the Durbar ban. The outcome of this invitation is also being awaited, adding to the confusion surrounding the investigation and raising concerns about coordination between the Kano Police and the Police Force Headquarters.

A Call for Clear Communication and Coordination

Given the restrictions already imposed by the Kano State Police Command such as the Durbar ban, announced by CP Bakori on March 28, 2025—it is critical that both local and federal law enforcement agencies collaborate effectively. Clear communication and coordinated efforts between all stakeholders are vital to resolving this matter swiftly and efficiently.

The Investigation Meeting: A Potential Disrespect to the Emirate and Traditional Institution

The invitation that was extended to the Emir of Kano for an investigative meeting seems unnecessary and, perhaps, demeaning to the revered Emir and the traditional institutions. This move risks complicating and compounding the investigation further, potentially providing an opportunity for individuals with ulterior motives to exploit the situation and sow discord within the state. A more effective approach would be for the Police Headquarters to respect the processes already in place within Kano, offering support where needed without overstepping the local jurisdiction’s authority.

Conclusion

The tragic death of Surajo Rabiu and the injuries sustained by Aminu Suleman demand swift justice, but it is essential that the investigation be conducted with clarity, transparency, and respect for local authority. The Kano State Police Command has already made significant progress in addressing the matter and deserves the space to complete its work without unnecessary distractions. External interference from the Police Headquarters in Abuja risks disrupting this process, and it is crucial for all relevant authorities to ensure clear communication, coordination, and respect for the integrity of the local investigation.

Tijjani Sarki
Public Policy Advocate and Analyst
Vice President, Human Rights Watch and

Youth Empowerment Foundation
April 5, 2025

The recent move by the Kano State Police Command to summon His Highness Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II for questioning, ostensibly over a Sallah homage visit that included no horses, no title holders, and no formal procession, marks a dangerous low point in the intersection of politics, culture, and governance in Nigeria.

Let us be clear from the outset: this was not a Durbar. It bore none of the hallmarks of the historic Hausa cavalry pageant—no traditional titleholders, no palace horses, no regalia-laden parade through the city. What occurred was a quiet homage—a ride in a car to visit his mother and the state governor, carried out in full compliance with police directives banning Durbar-related horse riding.

Yet the police, in a move that has shocked many observers, have initiated investigations and summoned not just palace aides but the Emir himself. This is not about law or public safety. This is about power, visibility, and intimidation.

*The Federal Hand Behind the Summons*

Behind this theatrical display of “law enforcement” lies a more calculated political agenda. The police are widely understood to be acting on the orders of powerful figures within the federal government—individuals who have never accepted Emir Sanusi’s return to the throne after his earlier removal for political reasons.

Sanusi’s reinstatement, made in accordance with tradition and supported by significant public sentiment, has clearly unsettled elements within Nigeria’s ruling class. His voice—intellectual, critical, and unapologetically reformist—represents everything that political gatekeepers fear: a monarch who cannot be bought, silenced, or domesticated.

*The Politicization of Security Forces*

It is a dangerous sign when state security agencies are used as tools of political retribution. The police have failed to distinguish between a symbolic act of cultural duty and an act of rebellion. Worse still, their intervention appears timed and tailored to undermine Sanusi’s legitimacy, casting a shadow of alleged defiance over what was, in reality, a subdued and respectful observance of Sallah tradition.

This is a misuse of police power, and it calls into question the neutrality of state institutions that are supposed to serve all Nigerians, not the political ambitions of a few.

*Undermining Tradition to Secure Power*

The true tragedy here is not just the police action—it is the broader erosion of Nigeria’s cultural autonomy and federal balance. The Kano Emirate, like other traditional institutions, carries centuries of historical legitimacy and moral authority. When such institutions become battlegrounds for federal vendettas, the consequences are severe: civic trust erodes, cultural dignity is diminished, and the thin fabric of national unity is strained even further.

In colonial times, British administrators feared the influence of Emirs and tried to curtail their power through indirect rule and surveillance. It is disheartening to see a postcolonial Nigerian state reenacting that same script—this time with security agents and political handlers instead of colonial residents.

*A Legacy Larger than Power*

What is it about Sanusi that provokes such disproportionate fear? Perhaps it is his refusal to be silent. Perhaps it is the uncomfortable truth that his legitimacy does not come from state machinery, but from the people, from tradition, and from a moral clarity that has made him a rare figure in Nigeria’s compromised elite class.

Whatever the cause, one thing is clear: this police action has backfired. In seeking to diminish Sanusi, the state has elevated him. In attempting to humiliate him, they have reaffirmed his place as a symbol of dignity under siege.

*Conclusion: The State Cannot Police Conscience*

In a democracy, cultural expression must not be criminalized. Tradition must not be trampled under the boots of federal anxiety. And most importantly, conscience must never be summoned like a suspect.

The people of Kano know who their Emir is. The world is watching. And history will remember not the orchestrated summons, but the quiet courage of a man who chose duty over fear, dignity over silence.

Olu Damilola writes from Kano.

By Zainab Amiru Sanusi

The main goal of any Federal Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria is to provide safe, quality, affordable, adequate, equitable, accessible and comprehensive health services to people, as well as contributing to the development of healthcare professionals. But this is not the case at the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina State.

My experience at the FTH on the 1st of April 2025, brings about many questions on the commitment of this institution in caring for the life it was designed to save.
My son (3 years) was running temperature and could barely walk, but I managed to take him to the Federal Teaching Hospital where we saw a doctor. After the consultation, the doctor asked if I had given him anything prior to which I responded that I had given him anti-malaria drugs and paracetamol, the doctor referred us to the laboratory for further investigations. At the laboratory, my son’s blood sample was taken but that itself was painful to watch as a mother, because they kept missing the vein thereby causing him more pain and discomfort. We were told to return the following day for the results. However, I felt the need to report back to the doctor and ask for advise on what else I could do pending the outcome of the result. The doctor recommended Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) but I raised my concern that my son had vomited everything he had taken so far, including water. The doctor reluctantly stated that I should just complete that anti-malaria drugs and continue with the ORS even if he throws up. He added that there was nothing else he could do without seeing the results of the Full Blood Count (FBC) from the laboratory.

That was how we returned home feeling disturbed as a mother seeing her son severely sick. My sleep was full of worries and my son kept throwing up the whole night.

The next day, after completing the anti-malaria dose, I returned to FTH and headed straight to the National Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS) laboratory to collect the results of the FBC tests so that we can proceed to see the doctor. To my greatest shock and disappointment, I met a staff who dismissively told me that the result was not out and that I should follow up at the hematology. I sensed something was not right because I had given them enough time to get the results ready.

Notwithstanding, I went straight to the hematology, It was at the hematology that I got the shock of my life, I was told the test was not done! I was dumbfounded, sad and speechless. I asked for an explanation after detailing to the staff that indeed, my son’s blood sample was taken and that I was assured the results would be ready in 24 hours. The only response the staff could provide was “Hajiya bamu da Kayan aiki“ (Hajiya, we are short of working tools.) I could not make sense of what he told me, then I asked again where is the blood sample of my son? He responded by saying that they had not been collecting blood samples because they were not carrying out those investigations and that they probably sent them back! I asked him why would you take blood samples for which you cannot run the test? To this, I was met with a deadpan stare! After some excruciating minutes of waiting for I don’t even know what, I asked him what I should do now.

He suggested I go outside the hospital and conduct the test if I truly needed it. “Allah ya bama Mara lafiyan lafiya” he concluded.

I left the hematology feeling disappointed and distressed at the hospital of that calibre, that pride itself with knowing exactly how to cater to the needs of its patients was displaying the highest form of incompetence and neglect with no one taking responsibility or showing any form of empathy. In fact, it can be said they are being deceitful, if not, why would samples be taken, knowing surely that the tests would not be done?

I dragged my feet to the NHIS lab to demand for the blood samples of my son and to my greatest shock (yet again), I was told it could not be found. At that instance I could feel the rage building up and I asked how that was possible. Yet again I was met with a deadpan stare!!! The lab attendant finally stated that it wasn’t their fault and that if they had the right working tools, they would have done that. His responses beg the question WHOSE FAULT IS IT??? Why is it that a reputable hospital such as the FTH Katsina doesn’t have the materials to conduct a test like “FBC???”

I reached out to some of the staff of the hospital who offered to speak on condition of anonymity. I was reliably informed that the major reason why I could not get my results was due to the absence of reagents which is the main substance used in conducting tests. They also stated that in cases, where the reagents where available, the management had to sign for them to be released to the laboratory. In a nutshell, the bureaucratic policy of the hospital is what is causing many patients like me and my son not to get the blood samples taken analysed. The patient is either left in the dark or made to seek for other alternatives.

The words of the Chief Medical Director (CMD), on the hospital’s website reads “We equally dedicate our resources to support our healthcare workforce in their daily tasks, helping them reach their fullest potential, thereby developing and maintaining service excellence at the highest level. We believe that, by ensuring better healthcare services for the present and future generations, we contribute to building a brighter world together. We look forward to your continued support and patronage.”

Sadly, my experience and that of many other helpless patients out there, some of who reached out to me with their own experiences is in direct contradiction to his words. There is no sign that the hospital is concerned about the poor state of affairs at its laboratory if not, there is no justification why there would be repeated issue of absence of common reagents to run tests effectively. The bureaucratic process of receiving these items also needs to be looked into if indeed the hospital wants to live up to its potential as the best place to access affordable healthcare in the state. For now though, the state of the laboratory is an accident waiting to happen.!

Therefore, I call on the federal government, the state government, Chairman Nation Health Insurance Scheme Katsina(NHIS) and the appropriate authority of the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina to pay serious attention and take necessary action to address the present condition of the hospital from collapsing by providing adequate assistance, medical facilities and trained medical personnel in order to minimise the rate of casualty and health complication in the state.