On Saturday, Abdul-Majid Umar, a member of the Kano State House of Assembly representing Gwale Local Government Area, was assaulted by a mob at an event attended by the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero.
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The incident occurred in the Goron Dutse area during an annual prayer for peace and stability in Kano, organized by Tijjaniyya Muslim leaders at Isyaku Rabiu’s residence.
Mr. Umar, a lawmaker from the ruling New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), was reportedly attacked by constituents after he left the venue.
Mr. Umar recounted on Monday that he was rescued by the deposed emir and the police.
He explained that the tension began when he noticed the venue was not secure.
As soon as the deposed emir arrived, his supporters began accusing Mr. Umar and his colleagues of supporting the bill that led to the emir’s dethronement.
“The deposed emir intervened when one of the palace guards attempted to hit me, using his hand to stop him and shouting at another guard who tried to attack me,” Mr. Umar said.
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Fearing for his safety, Mr. Umar decided to leave the event.
However, after leaving, he was attacked by a mob armed with dangerous weapons. He managed to escape by jumping into a police patrol vehicle.
Two of his supporters were injured during the escape.
Khalid Adamu, a media aide to the deposed emir, denied that the attackers were part of the emir’s entourage.
He stated that while the emir arrived with many supporters, none were armed.
The Kano emirate crisis intensified after the state lawmakers repealed the State Emirate Council Law 2019 on May 23, which had allowed former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to create four new emirates.
The same day, Governor Abba Yusuf assented to the bill and dismissed all the first-class emirs of Kano, Bichi, Rano, Karaye, and Gaya, reinstating Lamido Sanusi as the sole emir of Kano the following day.
In the wake of these events, Lawan Hussaini, the lawmaker who sponsored the bill, has reportedly gone into hiding due to backlash.
NNPP lawmakers from the dissolved emirates are avoiding their constituencies out of fear of similar attacks.
