The invitation to Muhammadu Sanusi, the Emir of Kano, has been rescinded by Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.
Sanusi was called by the police to the force headquarters on Friday to be questioned about the deaths that occurred during the recent Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
On behalf of the deputy inspector-general of police in command of the force intelligence department (FID), Abuja, the police requested that Sanusi attend an investigation meeting on 8 April in a letter dated April 4 and signed by Commissioner of Police Olajide Ibitoye.
Some members of a vigilance group who were purportedly in Sanusi’s entourage were allegedly ambushed and murdered during last Sunday’s Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
At Kano’s Kofar Mata Eid prayer site, Sanusi led the Eid prayer.
The state’s governor, Abba Yusuf, and other public servants were present for the Eid prayer service.
An eight-person team was established by the Kano police headquarters to look into the murder.
Abdullahi Kiyawa, the Kano police spokesperson, said the incident occurred despite the ban on durbar activities by the force.
POLICE: WE’LL MEET SANUSI IN KANO
The IGP retracted the invitation to the monarch after receiving advice from “respected stakeholders,” according to a statement released on Sunday by force spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
Instead, he added, the IGP has directed the force intelligence department to visit with Sanusi in Kano and get his account of what happened.
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According to Adejobi, the IGP is dedicated to making sure that police operations “are not politicised or misinterpreted.”
“The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, remains resolute in its commitment to conducting its criminal investigation duties with the highest level of professionalism including the investigation of this incident,” the statement reads.
“To this effect, some arrests have been made prompting an invitation to Alhaji Sanusi. The Force also wishes to reiterate that its actions are guided solely by the principles of justice, neutrality, and professionalism.”
Adejobi added that any individual found culpable in the violence will be brought to justice.
