A senior member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, Umar Moriki, was on Saturday shot dead by gunmen suspected to be bandits along the Gusau–Tsafe highway.
Local sources said the attack occurred near Fegi village in Tsafe Local Government Area while Mr Moriki was travelling from Gusau to Kaduna. The Gusau–Tsafe corridor has been one of the state’s most volatile routes, with repeated ambushes on motorists and security personnel.
The Zamfara APC, led by its chairman, Tukur Danfulani, confirmed the killing in a statement describing the incident as “a tragic loss for the party and the state.” The party said Mr Moriki had participated in a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, shortly before the attack.
Until his death, the 62-year-old politician held several notable positions, including vice chairman of Zurmi Local Government Area, director-general of a state agency, and special adviser on rural electrification. He also contested the Zurmi/Shinkafi federal constituency seat in the 2023 elections. He is survived by three wives and several children.
The party praised his contributions to community development, describing him as “a dedicated leader whose commitment to public service and humanitarian work remained unwavering.”
Saturday’s incident adds to a string of attacks in the area. In October, five policemen and three Community Protection Guards were killed in an ambush along the same axis. An indigene of the area, Ya’u Musa, told The Punch at the time that the officers were on patrol when gunmen emerged from the bush and opened fire on their vehicle.
Residents say the continued lawlessness along the route has deepened fears among travellers, as bandits increasingly target both civilians and security personnel.
Security agencies are yet to issue an official statement on Mr Moriki’s killing, and no arrests have been announced as of the time of filing this report.
