Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf calls for removal of the state Commissioner of Police, accusing him of insubordination during Nigeria’s Independence Day celebrations.
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has demanded the immediate removal of the State’s Police Commissioner, accusing him of defying orders and undermining his authority as the state’s top security officer.
The governor made the call on Wednesday during celebrations marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary at Kofar Mata Stadium in Kano, one of the country’s largest cities. His remarks came after security personnel under the command of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori were absent from the event, despite what Yusuf said were clear directives for their deployment.
“The Commissioner of Police has embarrassed us by his conduct. His action is unprofessional, unethical, and contrary to what is expected of a security chief on such a historic day,” Yusuf told the crowd. He accused the commissioner of insubordination and warned that such behavior threatens effective security coordination in the state.
The governor, visibly angered, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take swift action. “On behalf of myself as Chief Security Officer, and on behalf of the good people of Kano State, I call on President Tinubu to remove CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori today,” he declared.
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The demand added tension to what was meant to be a day of national pride, overshadowing the Independence Day festivities. Thousands had gathered at the stadium to mark the anniversary, an occasion typically focused on unity and reflection on Nigeria’s progress since independence from Britain in 1960.
Kano, a northern commercial hub with a population of more than 15 million, has faced security challenges in recent years, including clashes between political groups and concerns about extremist violence in parts of the wider region. The relationship between governors and security agencies is often a point of friction in Nigeria, where policing is federally controlled, leaving state leaders with limited authority over police operations.
As of Wednesday evening, neither the Kano police command nor federal security officials had publicly responded to Yusuf’s demand. It also remained unclear whether the presidency would act on his call.
The standoff underscores a broader debate in Nigeria over calls for State Police Force, with advocates arguing they would improve accountability and responsiveness to local needs. Critics, however, warn that state-controlled police could be misused for political ends.
For now, the dispute between Governor Yusuf and Commissioner Bakori has cast uncertainty over security coordination in Kano, a state often seen as a political bellwether in northern Nigeria.
