By Ayomide Otitoju
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, Umar Moriki, has been killed by gunmen suspected to be armed bandits.
Moriki was reportedly shot dead on Saturday morning along the Gusau–Tsafe highway, near Fegi village in Tsafe Local Government Area, while travelling from Gusau to Kaduna.
The Zamfara State chapter of the APC, led by Tukur Danfulani, confirmed the incident, describing it as a devastating loss to the party and the state. In a statement issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris, the late party stalwart had just attended an APC stakeholders’ meeting hosted by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
During his political career, Moriki held several key 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 House of Representatives seat in the 2023 elections.
Moriki died at the age of 62 and is survived by three wives and several children. The APC described him as a loyal party member and respected community figure who devoted his life to public service and humanitarian causes.
