A lawmaker from the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) in the Kano State House of Assembly, Abdul-Majid Umar, was assaulted by a mob at an event attended by the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, on Saturday.
Umar, representing Gwale Local Government Area, was attacked by some members of his constituency in the Goron Dutse area.
On Monday, Umar stated that the emir and the police had rescued him from the mob.
Aminu Ado-Bayero attended the annual closing prayer for peace and stability in Kano, organized by Tijjaniyya Muslim leaders at Isyaku Rabiu’s residence in Goron Dutse, within the Gwale local council area.
Umar, seated beside the emir at the event, was attacked shortly after leaving the venue.
The mob accused him of supporting the bill to dethrone the emir, reportedly injuring him before he escaped into a police patrol vehicle.
Umar told BBC Hausa Service on Monday that he was attacked by thousands of supporters of the deposed emir after leaving the event abruptly.
He said he left the venue when he sensed it was unsafe.
“After the deposed emir arrived, his supporters started abusing me and my colleagues, accusing us of repealing the Emirate Council Law 2019 that led to the dethronement of the emir. The deposed emir himself intervened to stop one of the palace guards from hitting me,” Umar said.
Umar decided to leave when he realized he was the only government official at the event.
“I became more disturbed after I left the venue as people armed with dangerous weapons attacked me. I hastily jumped into a police vehicle. That was how I was rescued. Two of my supporters were injured while we were leaving,” he added.
However, one of the media aides of the deposed emir, Khalid Adamu, denied that the attackers were part of the emir’s entourage, stating that Mr. Bayero arrived with many supporters, but none were armed.
The Kano emirate tussle began after lawmakers repealed the State Emirate Council Law 2019 on May 23, 2024, under which former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje created four new emirates.
Premium Times