The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has strongly condemned the violence that erupted in Kano during the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Speaking at a press briefing at the palace in Kofar Kudu on Friday, the reinstated Emir expressed deep sorrow over the turmoil that took place on Thursday, which resulted in the loss of lives, injuries, and significant property damage despite appeals for peaceful demonstrations by Governor Abba Yusuf.
Emir Sanusi highlighted the severe impact of the violence on Kano State, describing it as a major setback. He called on protesters to cease the demonstrations and not allow themselves to be manipulated into further destructive actions.
“Today is a sad day for the people of Kano as we reflect on the events of yesterday,” Sanusi stated. “The violence of yesterday was what scholars and leaders kept warning against—the possibility that miscreants and agents of destruction would hijack peaceful demonstrations and use the opportunity to cause mayhem, leading to loss of lives, destruction of properties, and injuries to countless people.”
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Emir Sanusi emphasized the detrimental effects of the violence on Kano’s progress and infrastructure, noting that the destruction of facilities like the printing press and the Digital Center of Excellence represents a significant financial and developmental loss.
These resources, he said, could have been used to address the very issues the protests aim to highlight, such as youth empowerment, poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, and nutrition.
“We have set ourselves back,” Sanusi remarked. “The printing press that was burned will have to be rebuilt, the machines will have to be bought, and these are funds that could have gone into youth empowerment, poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, and nutrition.”
Sanusi expressed particular concern over the destruction of the Digital Center of Excellence built by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which was intended to provide digital training and educational opportunities for youth.
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The center, which was due to be commissioned soon, had been vandalized and its computers destroyed, resulting in a loss of hundreds of millions of Naira meant for investment in human capital.
“North and Kano in particular were the most affected by the consequences of the protest,” the Emir continued. “I am calling on the people of Kano not to allow themselves to repeat what happened yesterday or to be deceived into continuing with this kind of mayhem.”
Sanusi urged parents, community leaders, and religious figures to counsel their children and followers to avoid violence and maintain peace. He stressed that any further violence would only harm Kano and that the responsibility to fix the resulting problems lies within the community.
“We pray to Allah to have mercy on the souls that have passed away, to restore the wealth of those who have been looted or vandalized, and to grant good health to those who are injured in a short time,” he said. “Let us revive the Kano spirit of strength, perseverance, and upholding steadfastness to God, who will lift us up and out of this even stronger.”
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The Emir also called on the people of Kano to cooperate with security agencies and report any suspicious activities. He encouraged the community to refuse to buy stolen goods and instead motivate those who looted to return the items to their rightful owners.
“We call on the people to maintain the peace, to cooperate with security agencies, and to report any suspicious activity by human beings,” Sanusi concluded. “When people steal goods, they always find a buyer. Let us try and refuse to buy stolen goods and instead encourage those young men and women to return those goods to their owners.”
The Emir’s address comes as Kano continues to grapple with the aftermath of the violent protests and seeks ways to rebuild and move forward.
