The paramount ruler of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, has dismissed threats to his life by the dread Islamic sect, Boko Haram, stating that true protection comes from the Allah.

The monarch, who presided over a special prayer session at the Kano City Central Mosque on Friday, said he remained protected against any evil attack and that nothing, except if it was willed by Allah, would happen to him.

“I am protected and nothing is going to happen to me,” Emir Sanusi said.

The emir said it was rather unacceptable for people to abandon their daily activities and/or desert places of worship because of the fear created by evil-doers, and urged all not to succumb to fear and be their brothers’ keepers.

The emir made the statement in a reaction to Boko Haram threat

The sect’s spokesman Shekau had, in a recently released 20-minute video, labelled the emir a “fake Muslim”. “I am talking to you, the emir of Kano, because of your recent utterances,” Shekau said in the video featured on the site of the Hausa service of the BBC at the weekend.

“Listen to me, you are only but the King of Kano, King of Central Bank, King of money, you are only Sanusi Lamido. Because you are made the emir of Kano that is why you called on the vigilante groups and hunters to attack us but the hunters and the vigilante groups will fail you. We would kill you and take your people as hostages.”

Also commenting on Shekau’s position in attacking religious groups, Muhammad Sanusi II urged all Muslim faithful and the followers of Tijjaniyya, Qadiriyya and Izala religious movements to be vigilant against the insurgents’ attacks. “I am appealing to people to be vigilante and protect their mosques, churches, markets and hospitals against any attack and people to report to security operatives any suspicious action and be courageous enough to apprehend anybody with suspicious character or moves,” he had appealed.