A senior chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, Alhaji Umar Moriki, was on Saturday killed by gunmen suspected to be bandits along the troubled Gusau–Tsafe highway. The incident occurred near Fegi village in Tsafe Local Government Area as he was travelling from the state capital, Gusau, to Kaduna.
His death has thrown the APC in Zamfara into mourning, with party leaders describing the killing as a painful blow to the state, the party and the late politician’s immediate family. The Zamfara APC Chairman, Tukur Danfulani, confirmed the attack and expressed deep shock over the incident.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris, said in a statement that Moriki had just participated in a stakeholders’ meeting hosted by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, before he embarked on the journey that ended in his tragic death.
The Gusau–Tsafe highway, where Moriki was attacked, is one of the major routes in Zamfara State that has come under repeated bandit attacks in recent years. Travellers along the route have regularly reported kidnappings, shootings, and roadblocks mounted by armed criminals.
Zamfara has struggled with a deadly banditry crisis for over a decade. Bandit groups operating in the state have targeted rural communities, travellers, and even security formations. Despite military operations and air strikes in some forested areas believed to be bandit hideouts, the insecurity has persisted, with many communities living in fear and displacement.
Saturday’s killing adds to a long list of high-profile attacks in the state and has again raised questions about the effectiveness of ongoing security efforts, especially along major roads.
Alhaji Umar Moriki was widely known in political and community circles in Zamfara. He served as Vice Chairman of Zurmi Local Government Area, Director-General of a state agency, and later as Special Adviser on Rural Electrification. He also contested the Zurmi/Shinkafi House of Representatives seat in the 2023 general elections.
Born 62 years ago, Moriki built a reputation as a loyal party man who remained committed to the APC since its early days in Zamfara. Party leaders described him as a disciplined politician who worked hard to strengthen the party structure and support government programs in his community.
In the statement released by the APC, the party wrote: “This is a devastating loss to the APC family and to Zamfara State. Alhaji Umar Moriki was a dedicated leader, a committed party member, and a respected statesman who served his people with honesty and courage.” The party added that his death had created a vacuum that would be difficult to fill.
Reactions have continued to pour in from political associates, community leaders, and residents who knew the late APC chieftain. Many described the attack as a painful reminder of the insecurity that has plagued Zamfara, especially in rural areas.
A party member who attended the stakeholders’ meeting in Gusau said Moriki had been in high spirits before leaving for Kaduna. “Nobody imagined that this would be his last journey,” he said. “He greeted everyone warmly and spoke about the need for peace in the state.”
Residents of Zurmi town, his hometown, said news of his killing spread quickly, throwing the community into mourning. Family members, neighbours, and party supporters gathered at his home to console his three wives and several children.
Zamfara State remains one of the epicentres of bandit activities in northern Nigeria. The attacks have caused widespread displacement, destroyed livelihoods, and disrupted farming activities in many local government areas, including Zurmi, Tsafe, Maradun, Shinkafi, and Gusau.
Moriki’s killing is expected to renew calls for a more decisive security strategy and stronger protection for citizens travelling on major roads within the state.
According to Islamic tradition, the late APC chieftain is expected to be buried shortly after the necessary arrangements are completed. Friends, political allies, and supporters from across Zamfara and neighbouring states are expected to attend the burial.
The APC leadership in the state has extended its condolences to his family and prayed for the repose of his soul. “We pray that Almighty Allah grants him eternal rest and gives his family the strength to bear this painful loss,” the party said.
As Zamfara continues to battle rising insecurity, the killing of Alhaji Umar Moriki has once again highlighted the human cost of the crisis. For many residents, the hope for peace remains strong, but the repeated attacks show that there is still a long road ahead.
