Princess Zainab J. Ado Bayero, the daughter of the late Emir of Kano, HRH Alhaji Ado Bayero, has raised alarm over an alleged hostage situation involving her family in Lagos.
The filmmaker and women’s rights advocate revealed to Vanguard that as of December 8, 2024, her mother and brother, Ahmed Tijjani Ado Bayero, were being held in a hotel in Lagos.
Known for her outspoken activism on women’s rights and social justice, Princess Zainab has recently faced personal turmoil, which she claims began following her father’s passing and has since escalated.
She expressed her shock and frustration at the situation, stating, “As a woman and feminist, I’m deeply shocked that I’ve been ignored by my own country. We criticize countries like South Africa for xenophobia, but what about the tribalism, hate, and bigotry in our own land?”
She further explained that her family had been held hostage for a day due to an unpaid hotel debt, adding, “My brother is depressed and miserable. Why isn’t anyone concerned about this? I recently read that Muslim women in Afghanistan no longer have the right to speak in public. And here I am, speaking out as a Muslim from the Kano emirate—this is considered treason. Why? Because my mother is not northern either.”
Princess Zainab continued by questioning the Nigerian government’s response to her family’s distress. “As a woman and citizen, I’m asking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: Is it right that I’m being abused by members of the Kano emirate? These men, believed to be the custodians of Kano, are taking away our rights—mine, my mother’s, and my brother’s.”
She urged the president to intervene, emphasizing that it is his responsibility to protect the rights of all Nigerian citizens. “We have been judged for being half southern and half northern and for challenging the patriarchal norms of society. We are part of the Royal Emirate of Kano. This is nothing short of a Greek tragedy. Why is it acceptable to torture us? Must we die because my father’s sons believe we don’t deserve to exist?”
In her statement, Princess Zainab also appealed to the Governor of Kano State, who is a family member, to help end their suffering. “I am calling on the Governor of Kano, the father of the people of Kano, to intervene and end this pain. I hope he truly wants to help us. I don’t know what’s happening, but I believe he should meet with my brother, Ahmed Tijjani, and me one-on-one to hear our plight.”