Residents Raise Alarm Over Arms-Carrying Hoodlums Occupying Rano Emirate Palace In Kano

Concern citizens of Rano Emirate in Kano have raised alarm over the occupation of arms-carrying hoodlums at the headquarters of the emirate on Sunday.

In a letter written to the state police commissioner on Tuesday said the hoodlums were camped at the Emir’s palace since Sunday by yet-to-be-identified persons.

It said the fact that the motives of these arms carrying machinery remains unknown, their intrusion is generally considered a threat to the security of life and property.

The letter read in part, ‘’In the evening of Sunday the 7th of July 2024, Rano town, the headquarters of our beloved Rano Emirate was stormed by arms carrying hoodlums, sponsored by a yet-to-be-identified person(s), who camped at the Emir’s palaces (both the Main Place and historic Tsohon Gari Palace).

“The fact that the motives of these arms-carrying machinery remain unknown, their intrusion is generally considered a threat to the security of life and property and, at the same time, a disrespect to the ban order given by the Commissioner of Police on 20th June 2024 that all non-state security actors, including vigilante members and hunters, should desist from providing security services in the State.

According to the letter, residents of the Rano Emirate are peaceful people known to always go about their businesses without creating trouble.

It said over the years, Rano Emirate had experienced uninterrupted peace and security agencies can testify to this claim.

‘’The recent Emirates tussle in Kano State, however, had brought about a lot of tension and discontent to the residents as many felt that their opinions, as stakeholders, were not respected, the letter stated.

‘’This is connected to the fact that public hearings were not conducted throughout the State to ascertain whether there was a need to dissolve the four additional emirates (Rano, Gaya, Karaye and Bichi) upgraded by the administration of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in the State.

“Even with the above development, the residents of Rano Emirate were able to control their emotions and acted within the confine of laws, as only legitimate peaceful demonstrations were carried out.’’

‘’The people had exercised restraint because of their belief in the judiciary; since the Emirates case is before a competent court of justice. The good people of Rano Emirate, as usual, had opted to respect the court’s order given by the Federal High Court Kano on the case, which we believed is a constitutional duty of all citizens.’’ 

FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER

                                                                                                                                   9th July, 2024

The Commissioner of Police,

Kano State Police Command,

Bompai,

Kano State.

Concerns over Security of Life and Property of Law Abiding Residents of Rano Emirate, Kano State

We, on behalf of good people of Rano Emirate, write to draw the attention of the Federal Government, State Government and security agencies over what we perceive as a threat to the security of life and property in Rano, the headquarter of the Rano Emirate Council, Kano State. Over the years, Rano Emirate had experienced uninterrupted peace and security agencies can testify to this claim. The recent Emirates tussle in Kano State, however, had brought about a lot of tension and discontent to the residents as many felt that their opinions, as stakeholders, were not respected. This is connected to the fact that public hearings were not conducted throughout the State to ascertain whether there was a need to dissolve the four additional emirates (Rano, Gaya, Karaye and Bichi) upgraded by the administration of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in the State. Even with the above development, the residents of Rano Emirate were able to control their emotions and acted within the confine of laws, as only legitimate peaceful demonstrations were carried out. The people had exercised restraint because of their belief in the judiciary; since the emirates case is before a competent court of justice. The good people of Rano Emirate, as usual, had opted to respect the court’s order given by the Federal High Court Kano on the case, which we believed is a constitutional duty of all citizens. 

To our dismay, in the evening of Sunday the 7th of July 2024, Rano town, the headquarter of our beloved Rano Emirate was stormed by arms carrying hoodlums, sponsored by a yet-to-be-identified person(s), who camped at the Emir’s places (both the Main Place and historic Tsohon Gari Palace). The fact that the motives of these arms carrying machineries remains unknown, their intrusion is generally considered a threat to the security of life and property, at the same time, a disrespect to the ban order given by the Commissioner of Police on 20th June 2024 that all non-state security actors, including vigilante members and hunters, should desist from providing security services in the State.

As concerned citizens, we felt obliged to relent the information on this security breach to you, so that appropriate measures would be put in place to contain the situation before it escalates into a serious security issue with consequences on our security, economy and well-being of our people. We thus call on all concerned to come to our aid so that peace and order will continue to thrive.  This is in line with the 8-Point agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which had security of life and property of law-abiding Nigerians as one of its top-most priorities. We are at a critical stage of our national history, at which no patriotic Nigerian will afford to toy with the hard-earned security in any part of the country.

We are very much confident that our complaint, looking at its importance and the volatility for insecurity in the state, will be urgently attended to.

Sincere regards,

Concerned Citizens

Signed

Prof. Abdu Salihi

Alhaji Ubale Na-Ghali

Prof. Shehu Rano Aliyu

Alhaji Wali Ado

Yusuf Mohammed Bompai

Alhaji Ubale Mohammed Bompai

Alhaji Bako Alu

Mal. Nasiru Jikan Sarki

Ahmad Abubakar Rano

Alhaji Umar Sarki Rano

Umar Yunusa Rano

Nasiru Ibrahim Maso Rano

Dr. Kawu Sule Rano

Aliyu Maikasuwa Rano

Alhaji Haladu Saji

Ibrahim Ishaq Dan’Uwa Rano

Mal. Murtala Shehu

Mal. Mukhtar Lawan Rano

Cc:

The Executive Governor, Kano State

The Inspector-General of the Police

The Assistant Inspector-General of the Police, Zone 1, Kano

The Distinguished Senator Suleiman Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, Senator Kano South

The Hon. Member House of Rep., Representing Rano, Kibiya, Bukure, Rt. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum

The State Director, DSS

The Hon. Chairman Caretaker Committee, Rano Local Government Council