Tijjaniyyamaulud…Dissecting security alert that nearly marred a religious celebration
08 February 2025 |
3:08 am
Eleven years after the infamous attack on Central Mosque near the emir’s palace in Kano State, the devastating memories are still evergreen. The suicide attack left hundreds of innocent worshippers in the pool of their blood. Several people who narrowly escaped death have permanent scars on their bodies.
Eleven years after the infamous attack on Central Mosque near the emir’s palace in Kano State, the devastating memories are still evergreen. The suicide attack left hundreds of innocent worshippers in the pool of their blood. Several people who narrowly escaped death have permanent scars on their bodies.
Before the November 28, 2014incident, two suicide bombings had occurred at various scenes in the state. On May 18, 2014, a large gathering of people at an entertainment centre in Sabon Gari area of the state was attacked by a suicide bomber, leaving several people dead.
The terrorists had also launched another deadly attack on a lecture room at the Federal College of Education, Kano. Several students died from the attack while many sustained injuries.
With these terrifying experiences still in mind, the recent security signal of a planned invasion of Kano by terrorists came to the residents as a shock. The report instilled palpable fear and tension in the minds of the people.
According to a release by the spokesman of the command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, intelligence gathered from other security agencies had indicated that suspected terrorists might unleash a coordinated attack on the city.
To mitigate the security threat, Kiyawa disclosed that the police had deployed necessary measures with a team of explosive ordinance disposal, chemical, biology, radiological and nuclear units to cordon certain strategic locations.
“In response, we hereby urge residents to exercise caution and avoid crowded places and environments until further notice as a preventive measure to enable security operatives to identify and dislodge possible attackers.
“To ensure a peaceful atmosphere, we have put necessary measures in place. A team of experts from the Command’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear units have been deployed to strategic locations and are on high alert.
“The unit can be contacted through: 08169884988 or 07067157218 for reports of suspicious persons or item(s). We encourage residents to report any emergency or suspicious activity to the nearest police station or contact the Kano State Police Command through the emergency numbers,” Kiyawa said.
Speaking with The Guardian, residents recalled the wound inflicted on the city by Boko Haram insurgents 11 years ago and how fear enveloped them following the security alert. A businessman, Hassan Sani Tukur, narrated how he felt.
“The first feeling that came to my mind when I heard about the police announcement was fear because it took me back to the days of Boko Haram bombing. That was what came to my mind and what I thought would happen again.
“That announcement from police was scary and disappointing because Kano has relatively been peaceful despite the attacks on neighbouring states by terrorists.
“But we thank God that the general feeling of fear did not last long as the government came out to debunk the security alert,” Tukur said. Muhammadu Surajo Wudil expressed a similar view, saying he suspended all his plans for the weekend out of fear.
“When I heard the news on radio, at first I thought it wasn’t here because Kano has been peaceful over the years even with the news of attack and banditry in Katsina, Kaduna and other states near us. But a friend called me a few minutes later to confirm whether it is true or not.
“It is really worrisome; I must say that because I had not heard about something like that in Kano in a long while. It is really not something you would pray to happen to any state. I remember how Kano was brought backward between 2013, 2014 and 2015 by the bomb attacks. It took the intervention of prayers to ease it out.
“But we thank God that between that period and now, there was no terror attack. Glory be to God. Whether it is true or not, we will continue to pray for guidance. And the police should concentrate on their job because of what we are hearing. I am not saying it was a false alarm but police should remember that people’s lives are at stake,” Wudil said.
The reaction of a trader in Sabon Gari Market, Kano, Chidi Okey, was not different as he stated that the news discouraged him from going to the bank and other important places he initially scheduled.
His words: “Bomb attack or alert is not a joke my brother. Whether it is political or religious, you just have to take it seriously because we are talking about life. We know what happened in Sabon Gari here some years back; how these people came to attack innocent people at the bear parlor.
“Please may God continue to protect us. When someone told me that the police said some terrorists wanted to attack Kano, first I cancelled all my activities that day. Even at the market I went to, I didn’t stay long before returning home out of fear because the police said we should not go to crowded places. May God save us.”
The security alert came less than 24 hours to the yearly National Tijjaniyya Maulud that was held at Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, under the spiritual leadership of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Prior to the security signal, the police had deployed a team of mobile officers and men to barricade the venue of the event; they restricted the organisers and members of the Tijjaniyya sect from accessing it.
However, when the state government debunked the security alert, the scenario changed. Besides, the government directed the police to dismantle the barricade mounted at Sani Abacha Stadium, insisting that the scheduled National Maulud celebration of the Tijjaniyya Muslim sect must be held.
Although there was no initial indication that the security alert had a link with the Maulud celebration, the position of the state government created that impression.
The Commissioner for Information, Abdullahi Ibrahim Waiya, maintained that Kano was not under any impending security threat and urged residents to remain calm and embark on their lawful businesses without fear.
Waiya refuted the security signal issued by the police command, claiming that the security alert was a deliberate attempt to obstruct the yearly religious activity of the sect.
“Kano has always been a beacon of peace and religious tolerance, and we will not accept any form of intimidation or undue interference in our internal affairs. We remain resolute in ensuring that the rights of our people to religious freedom and peaceful assembly are respected,” Waiya noted.
The commissioner said the facility belongs to the state government, hence it did not require permission to use it, just as he insisted that the yearly Maulud would hold as scheduled.
The police eventually bowed to pressure and vacated the venue and the Tijjaniyya celebration was held as scheduled with prominent personalities, including the representative of Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and his deputy, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, in attendance.
The stadium was filled to capacity and the event lasted for several hours under a peaceful atmosphere. Although no attack or security threat was recorded in the state during and after the event, the police have insisted that its intelligence was not based on falsehood as alleged by the state government.
Addressing journalists at the Command Headquarters in Kano, the Commissioner of Police, CP Salman Dogo Garba, disclosed the arrest of suspected terrorists and the recovery of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) at the Sani Abacha Stadium before the event commenced.
The CP expressed worries over how residents input political interest to security affairs in the state, noting that he has a strong background and ancestral affiliation to the Tijjaniyya movement and would not attempt to work against it.
Garba said: “We truly acted on intelligence of terrorists who came from Chad to launch attacks in Kano. They had planned to use the Tijjaniyya Maulud celebration to unleash their terror.
“That was the reason for the signal and we deployed men to comb the venue of the event. We recovered IEDs at the venue and we also arrested a soft suspect, who was their host in Kano; while the primary targets escaped to Cameroun.”
Beyond the confrontation over the security signal, pundits believe that what played out was a reflection of the emirate tussle between Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the 15th emir, Aminu Ado Bayero.
Although Sanusi holds the position of leader (Khalifa) of the Tijjaniyya sect in Nigeria and hosted the Kano event, a renowned Tijjaniyya scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, held a similar Maulud in Bauchi State with large turnout of members.
Bayero reportedly participated in the Bauchi Maulud, which was held simultaneously with that of Kano. A researcher and publisher, Ado Ibrahim Kurawa, said the police have the moral burden to reclaim their image by proving to Kano residents that the terror alert was true. Kurawa stated that until that is done; residents would continue to believe that the police meddled with the emirate council matters.
“Police should provide evidence about the security threat. Until that is done, people would be left to assume that the police simply acted on the script of the central government to provide Bayero with security cover. Nobody will take the police seriously again.
“Already, we have reasons to say the Federal Government is meddling with the emirship tussle and the actions of the police suggest the police was taking side with Aminu Ado Bayero,” Kurawa said.
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