Hundreds of youths in Kano on Thursday staged a protest in support of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Bakori, rejecting Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s demand for his removal.
The demonstrators argued that the governor’s position is politically motivated and could undermine police authority and security in the state.
The protest came after Governor Yusuf publicly accused the police chief of humiliating him by withdrawing security personnel from the Independence Day celebration in Kano.
The youths, however, insisted that the governor was dragging the police into politics.
They carried placards with inscriptions such as “CP Kano must stay,” “Kano People Love CP,” and “Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf Leave CP Alone.”
Civil society groups join the fray
The Kano Agenda, a coalition of civil society organisations, also weighed in on the controversy, demanding a full investigation into the police withdrawal during the October 1 parade.
Speaking at a press conference, the group’s leader, Comrade Abbas Yakasai, said Independence Day should not be reduced to partisan battles.
“Independence Day should be a day to bring the nation together, above politics, divisions, and conflicts,” Yakasai said.
Withdrawal an ‘affront to independence’
The coalition condemned the sudden police exit, which it said happened under “unclear and suspicious directives” less than 30 minutes before the event.
“This withdrawal, announced barely 30 minutes before the event, under unclear and suspicious directives, was more than a logistical setback, it was an affront to the spirit of independence itself,” Yakasai lamented.
Governor Yusuf has since called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove CP Bakori from Kano, arguing that his conduct at the ceremony showed disrespect for the state government.
Tensions rise between governor and police
The incident has deepened tensions between the Kano State Government and the police leadership, with both sides accusing each other of undermining public trust.
While Governor Yusuf maintains that CP Bakori’s actions embarrassed the state, youth groups and civil society argue that attempts to oust the commissioner could weaken law enforcement and destabilise security.
The Presidency has yet to respond to Governor Yusuf’s request for Bakori’s removal.
