The immediate cause of the 1953 Kano riot was the humiliation of northern legislators in Lagos. In 1953, a delegation of northern legislators traveled to Lagos to negotiate the terms of Nigeria's independence with the British colonial authorities. However, the delegation was met with hostility and insults by some southern politicians, which led to protests and violence in the northern city of Kano. The riot was sparked by a belief that the northern region and its leaders were being disrespected and marginalized in the negotiations for independence. The incident highlighted the ethnic and regional tensions that existed in Nigeria at the time and underscored the need for a more inclusive political process that could accommodate the interests of all regions and ethnic groups.