A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, Umar Moriki, has been shot dead by gunmen suspected to be bandits in yet another violent attack on the troubled Gusau–Tsafe highway.
Moriki was ambushed and killed early Saturday near Fegi village in Tsafe Local Government Area while travelling from Gusau to Kaduna, shortly after attending a stakeholders’ meeting hosted by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, in the state capital.
The Zamfara State chapter of the APC confirmed the incident in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris, describing Moriki’s death as a painful loss to both the party and the state.
“His death is a great loss to our party and to Zamfara State. Moriki was a dedicated party man who devoted his life to public service and humanitarian support,”
Idris said, noting that the late politician was returning from a crucial party engagement when the attack occurred.
Moriki, aged 62, was a seasoned political figure in Zamfara. He previously served as 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 House of Representatives seat in the 2023 general elections.
He is survived by three wives and several children.
Zamfara remains one of the hardest-hit states in northern Nigeria’s prolonged banditry crisis. Armed groups continue to carry out killings, kidnappings, extortion and village raids despite multiple military operations and peace initiatives.
Major highways, particularly the Gusau–Tsafe and Gusau–Funtua routes, have become increasingly perilous, with commuters frequently ambushed by heavily armed gangs. Rural communities across Zurmi, Shinkafi, Maru, Tsafe, and Birnin Magaji LGAs continue to suffer repeated attacks, prompting mass displacement and sustained fear among residents.
Moriki’s killing adds to the growing list of political figures, traditional leaders, and ordinary citizens who have been targeted in the state, further intensifying concerns about deteriorating security conditions and the emboldenment of criminal networks operating across the region.
Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the killing, but residents and party members are calling for an immediate and decisive response to bring the perpetrators to justice.