BREAKING: Police ban Sallah Durbar festival in Kano

The Kano State Police Command has banned Durbar activities in the state.

This was announced in a statement issued by Abdullahi Kiyawa, Police Public Relations Officer of the command on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

According to the statement, the ban became necessary to sustain the peace by the police command in conjunction with all the relevant security stakeholders.

“In furtherance, a ban on all contending parties has been placed restraining both from conducting Durbar activities for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations,” the statement said.

He, however, advised worshippers to conduct their normal Eid Prayers at the various designated praying grounds, as was traditionally done in the past.

“In this trying period, the Police will enforce the existing Court Order and prevail on the two contending parties regarding the Kano Emirates tussle and urge them to remain apart and respect the court order,” he said.

The commissioner said the command would want to see continued collaboration and cooperation from all stakeholders to collectively work together to build a safer and more secure environment.

He urged the general public to keep reporting any suspicious movement of persons or items to the nearest police station.

Recently the deposed 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, issued directives to his District Heads to participate in the Sallah Durbar celebration in the state.

However, contradicting this directive, the command denied receiving any letter from Bayero seeking permission to organize the Sallah durbar during the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir festivities.

Bayero’s deposition from the Emirship occurred on May 23, 2024, following the repeal of the Kano Emirate Council Law 2019, which resulted in the division of the Kano emirate into five.

The Kano State House of Assembly nullified the 2019 law thereby abolishing the five emirates created under the administration of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

Governor Abba Yusuf, acting on the newly enacted Kano State Emirate Council Law 2024, dismissed the five emirs and reinstated amido Sanusi, deposed by Ganduje in 2020, as the 16th Emir of Kano.

Despite his dethronement, the 15th Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, contested the decision and continued to assert his claim to the ancient stool, operating from a mini palace in Nasarawa.