Security agencies failed to act on intelligence before protest in Kano, says Sanusi

Muhammadu Sanusi, the Emir of Kano, says the failure of security operatives to act on intelligence led to the attacks on public and private properties in the state during the #EndBadGovernance protest.

Many properties were looted and damaged in Kano during the protest that started on August 1.

The protest was organised against the rising cost of living, insecurity, and other challenges facing the country.

However, the protest turned violent in many cities across the country, including Potiskum, the capital of Yobe, Lagos, Borno, and Gombe.

In Kano, protesters vandalised and looted the newly built Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) Industrial Park billed for commissioning this week.

Speaking on Wednesday during a visit to the Kano Printing Press, NCC Digital Industrial Park, and Barakat Stores, the Emir said those bent on destroying the state will not succeed.

“As we used to say, whoever had a hand in this is an enemy of Kano, and he is an enemy to its people. What happened in Kano, whoever saw them knew was planned,” Sanusi said.

“Kano was billed to be destroyed, but we pray that God will not let them succeed. May God return all that was lost; we can only pray.

“Before this happened, the security operatives were notified in writing that it was going to happen, but instead of preventing it, it was allowed to happen.

“We pray that God comes to the aid of these youth, and whoever is behind it, God will deal with them. We pray that we may not witness anything like this in the future.

“I swear to Almighty God those bent on destroying Kano will not succeed, and God willing, the way they saw Kano, they will leave it like that.”

Also speaking, Muhammad Othman, the commissioner for science and technology and ICT in Kano, noted that the state government had gotten the approval of Bosun Tijani, the minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, to renovate the building and restore the looted items.