THE Kano State Police Command has banned durbar activities in the state as the Muslim faithful celebrate Eid-El-Kabir this weekend.
A statement issued on Thursday, June 13, by the state commissioner of police, Usaini Gumel, stated that the ban became necessary to sustain peace in the state.
According to reports, the deposed emir of the Kano emirate, Aminu Ado Bayero, had on June 10, invited district heads for the forthcoming durbar, which Muslims often celebrate after every eid.
The announcement was contained in a circular signed by a senior councillor of the emirate, Abbas Sanusi, Galadiman Kano.
The circular directed all the district heads of the emirate to come along with their village heads, horse riders, and praise singers.
The circular also noted that local government chairmen had been notified of the development to facilitate the smooth transportation of the district heads into the Kano metropolis.
The ICIR reports that the durbar festival is usually held twice yearly in Kano and some other ancient towns in Northern Nigeria, to mark the Eid-el-Fitr and Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
It is a colourful event that often lasts for three or four days, with the festival characterised by processions through the city, led by the emir, a key player in the event.
The emir leads about five processions throughout the festival.
However, in a statement on Thursday, the police said such activity would not be allowed in the interest of peace.
“The Kano State Police Command congratulates Muslim faithful and all law-abiding residents of the state for witnessing yet another Eid-El-Kabir Sallah period and assures that adequate security deployments have been put in place to ensure no breakdown of law and order in all parts of the state before, during and after the festive period.”
“This is part of the commitment to the sustenance of the peace by the Kano State Police Command in conjunction with all the relevant security stakeholders. In furtherance, a ban has been placed on all durbar activities throughout the State for the upcoming Eid-El-Kabir celebrations. This measure is taken as a result of a series of security reports obtained and wide consultations made with relevant security stakeholders to ensure the safety of the larger community,” the statement read.
The police, however, advised the faithful to conduct their normal Eid prayers at the various designated Eid praying grounds as done in the past.
“On a final note, the Command encourages continued collaboration and cooperation from all stakeholders to collectively work together to build a safer and more secure environment. The Command also urges everyone to keep reporting any suspicious movement of person(s) or item(s) they come across to the nearest police station,” the statement added.
The ICIR reported that the current emirship crisis in Kano has made many residents wonder which of the two embattled emirs will lead the Durbar festival.
This was a result of the amended law abolishing the existing five emirates and restoring the single emirate system in the state.
By implication, all the five emirs ruling at the time of the amendment were dethroned, and the state government reinstated Lamido Sanusi, deposed by the previous administration, led by the current national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje.
Sanusi’s reinstatement threw the state into confusion as the dethroned Emir Bayero refused to relinquish his office.
The matter has been pending in court, as both the state High Court and a Federal High Court in the state have issued conflicting orders on the matter.
The impasse has remained unresolved nearly four weeks after.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M