Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police, has withdrawn the invitation sent to Muhammadu Sanusi, the Emir of Kano.
On Friday, the police invited Sanusi to the force headquarters for questioning over alleged killings during the recent Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
In a letter dated April 4 and signed by Olajide Ibitoye, commissioner of police, on behalf of the deputy inspector-general of police in charge of the force intelligence department (FID), Abuja, the police asked Sanusi to attend an investigative meeting on April 8.
During the Eid-el-Fitr celebration last Sunday, some members of a vigilance group who were said to be part of Sanusi’s entourage were allegedly attacked and killed.
Sanusi presided over the Eid prayer at the Kofar Mata Eid prayer ground in Kano.
Abba Yusuf, governor of the state, and other government officials attended the Eid prayer session.
The Kano police command had constituted an eight-member panel to investigate the killing.
Abdullahi Kiyawa, the Kano police spokesperson, said the incident occurred despite the ban on durbar activities by the force.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesperson, said the IGP withdrew the invitation to the monarch following advice from “respected stakeholders”.
He said instead, the IGP has ordered the force intelligence department to meet Sanusi in Kano and obtain his statement on the incident.
Adejobi said the IGP is committed to ensuring that policing actions “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.
The Cable
