Three security personnel attached to the wife of Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, have reportedly been arrested following her departure from the governor’s residence amid an ongoing marital crisis.
Politics Nigeria earlier reported that Zainab Musa Kwankwaso, had approached an Abuja court seeking the dissolution of their marriage after about 20 years together.
The development reportedly followed Zainab’s decision to leave her husband’s residence, an incident that allegedly raised concerns among security officials over how she was able to leave without the knowledge of those assigned to protect her.
The three personnel were reportedly attached to the governor’s wife.
However, details surrounding their identities, the specific allegations against them and the circumstances of their arrests have not been officially established.
The marital disagreement became public after Zainab, who is the daughter of former Kano State Governor and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, reportedly instituted divorce proceedings against Yusuf at an Upper Area Court in Gudu, Abuja.
The case, registered as CV/97/26, is seeking the dissolution of their marriage, which began in 2006.
The court has reportedly summoned Governor Yusuf to appear on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, in connection with the proceedings.
A member of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, the political group associated with Kwankwaso, confirmed the development while speaking about the situation.
The source disclosed that Zainab had moved out of her husband’s residence several weeks before the divorce case became public.
“Yes, it is true. The woman has moved out of her husband’s house and the governor has been asked to appear before the court on November 17. The reason for her divorce is known to her; I don’t want to insinuate.
“She was based in Abuja; she occasionally visited Kano. But I was told she had moved out of her husband’s house about three weeks ago,” the source said.
The individual also acknowledged awareness of the reported arrest of the security personnel when asked about the incident.
Asked about the arrest of the security personnel, the Kwankwaso ally responded, “yes, I am aware.”
However, the circumstances surrounding the alleged arrests remain unclear, as there has been no detailed official explanation from the Kano State Police Command.
The command’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Kiyawa, declined to discuss the matter when contacted, explaining that the issue was already before a court of law.
“We cannot comment on the issue because it is already before a court of law,” Kiyawa said.
He added, “As a responsible institution, the command does not discuss issues that are pending before the courts.”
The police spokesperson’s response has left several questions surrounding the reported arrests unanswered, including the reasons for the security personnel’s alleged detention and whether any formal charges have been filed against them.
Efforts to obtain the Kano State Government’s position were also unsuccessful.
The Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya, did not respond to calls seeking his reaction to the development.
Meanwhile, the divorce proceedings have drawn attention because of the political relationship between the governor and his estranged father-in-law, Kwankwaso.
Zainab is the daughter of the former Kano governor, who played a significant role in Yusuf’s political journey and emergence as governor in the 2023 general elections.
Yusuf contested the election under the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), with considerable political backing from Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya political movement.
Their relationship, however, suffered a major setback after Yusuf’s decision to leave the NNPP and join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defection created a political disagreement between the governor and his former political mentor.
It also triggered divisions among their supporters in Kano State, with different political figures taking positions on the governor’s decision.
Although the marital crisis has emerged against the backdrop of the political disagreement, the specific reasons behind Zainab’s decision to seek a divorce have not been officially linked to the political differences between both men.
The divorce application is a separate legal matter, and the court is yet to determine the request.
Governor Yusuf has not publicly offered a detailed explanation concerning the divorce application or the reported arrest of the security personnel.
Zainab has also not issued a detailed public statement addressing the circumstances surrounding her decision to seek the dissolution of the marriage.
The police have similarly declined to provide further details, citing the fact that the matter is before the court.
