TheCable

Security was beefed up ahead of a possible visit by Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, to Muhammad Sanusi II, the deposed emir of Kano.

Earlier on Thursday, security sources told TheCable that they had orders to prepare to receive the governors of Nasarawa and possibly Kaduna at 3pm.

TheCable called sources within the Nasarawa government house to verify the information.

We were told the governor is currently not in town, and his vehicles are currently parked at the state house.

Arrival of emir of Awe

But about an hour after the information was given, a bomb squad came to Sanusi residence, searching cars in the vicinity and clearing up the area.

A few minutes past 4pm another security source said the governor of Kaduna state was still coming to Nasarawa.

A group of armed men, dressed in army camouflage, arrived at Sanusi’s exile home in Awe at some minutes to 5pm, positioning to receive a high-class visitor.

Less than 30 minutes after this, Abdullahi Sule, the governor of Nasarawa state, and the emir of Lafia, drove in to see the deposed emir.

Both men returned to Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital, less than two hours later.

It is unclear if Nasir el-Rufai will still be visiting the revered economist he recently appointed chancellor of Kaduna State University.