Kano First Forum Petitions Police Over Alleged Inciting Statements by Dan Agundi

The Incorporated Trustees of Kano First Forum has petitioned the Kano State Commissioner of Police over alleged public utterances by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, which the organisation said could heighten tension and threaten public peace in the state.

The Forum, through its solicitors, called for a discreet, impartial and comprehensive investigation into statements allegedly made by Dan Agundi during a press briefing on Oct. 1, 2026, following the participation of Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano, at the Independence Day celebration.

According to the petition, the briefing focused, among other issues, on the reported use of a horse by the Emir during the celebration, despite an existing directive by the Kano State Government concerning the use of horses.

The Forum said it was particularly concerned about a statement attributed to Dan Agundi in which he allegedly told the people of Kano State to “await their return and await further directives from them.”

It described the statement as sensitive given the longstanding disagreements surrounding the Kano Emirate, stressing that public utterances capable of generating uncertainty or speculation should be treated with caution.

The organisation said its concern was not about political or traditional differences, but the possible consequences of statements made in what it described as a delicate environment.

It said allowing members of the public to speculate about who would return, what such a return would mean and what “further directives” might entail could create fear, anxiety and tension among residents.

The Forum said it approached the police because of the need to prevent statements or actions that could potentially escalate existing tensions.

It stressed that its intervention should not be interpreted as an attempt to suppress legitimate disagreement, political expression or lawful criticism.

Rather, it said its objective was to ensure that disagreements surrounding the Kano Emirate were handled through lawful and peaceful channels without exposing residents to unnecessary tension or the risk of confrontation.

The Forum urged the Kano State Police Command to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged statements, establish their context and determine whether they constituted any breach of the law or conduct capable of disturbing public peace.

It also called on political, traditional, religious and community leaders across the state to exercise restraint in their public communications, particularly when addressing issues connected to the Kano Emirate.

The organisation stressed that Kano was a commercially, socially and politically important state whose stability affected millions of people within and beyond the state.

It therefore urged all stakeholders to place the safety of residents above personal, political or institutional interests.

“Whatever differences may exist concerning the Kano Emirate, they must be resolved through the courts and other lawful institutions, rather than through statements that could be interpreted as threats, directives or calls for confrontation,” the Forum stated in the petition.

Kano First Forum said it remained committed to the protection of peace, public safety and the rule of law, adding that the petition was submitted in the interest of preventing avoidable conflict and protecting lives and property.

The petition was addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, with copies forwarded to the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) for their attention.

The Forum consequently appealed to the security agencies to independently assess the matter and take whatever lawful steps might be necessary to preserve peace and prevent any development capable of threatening public order in Kano State.