The District Head of Kabo and traditional title holder of Sarkin Gabas in Kano State, Alhaji Idris Dankabo, has died following a fatal road accident in Kano metropolis on Thursday night. He was 48 years old.
His death was confirmed by the Kano Emirate Council through a statement posted on its official Facebook page, Sanusi Dynasty.
The late Dankabo was the eldest son of the late Alhaji Muhammad Adamu Dankabo, the Jarma of Kano and founder of the now-defunct Kabo Air — once a prominent Nigerian airline. The Dankabo family remains one of the most influential in Kano, with strong legacies in business, politics, and philanthropy.
Until his passing, Idris Dankabo held the senior traditional title of Sarkin Gabas, a role that carried significant cultural and administrative authority within the Kano Emirate hierarchy.
He is survived by one wife and two children.
Funeral prayers are scheduled to be held today, Friday, at 10 a.m. at the Kano Emir’s Palace, where the Emir of Kano is expected to lead the Janazah (funeral) prayer.
The sudden death of the respected traditional ruler is seen as a major loss to the Kano Emirate, which continues to play a key role in preserving the cultural and leadership traditions of Northern Nigeria.
Kabo Air, founded by the late Adamu Dankabo in 1980, was once a major player in Nigeria’s aviation sector, operating domestic, regional, and international flights before later focusing on charter and Hajj operations.
The passing of Alhaji Idris Dankabo marks the end of a rising figure in Kano’s traditional leadership and leaves a notable void in the emirate’s ruling structure.
