One of Nigeria’s most prominent traditional rulers narrowly escaped death when gunmen attacked his convoy a short while ago.

Reports from the north-western state of Kano said gunmen suspected to be of the violent Boko Haram Islamic sect launched a surprise attack on the convoy of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, at Masallacin Murtala area of Kano metropolis.

“Information has it that the Emir’s convoy was mistaken to a Christian Bishop’s convoy,” according to an online paper, the West African Echo.

The paper said its “correspondent who put a call to the Emir confirmed that the Emir is safe, though with minor injury.”

News Express reports that Alhaji Ado Bayero (shown in photo) has often expressed sadness over the violence being perpetrated in his domain ostensibly by Boko Haram.

On January 22 last year, the Emir broke down and wept openly while receiving President Goodluck Jonathan, who had visited his palace to sympathise with him over the loss of lives and property resulting from coordinated bomb attacks on several security units in Kano by Boko Haram members.