In a shocking development that has sent ripples through Nigeria's political landscape, a prominent All Progressives Congress chieftain in Zamfara State was brutally assassinated by unidentified gunmen hours after attending a high-profile meeting with Minister of State for Defence Dr Bello Matawalle.
Political Figure Ambushed After Ministerial Engagement
Hon Umar Sarkin Fada Moriki, a respected 62-year-old APC stalwart, met his tragic end in the early hours of Saturday when armed assailants intercepted his vehicle near Fegi village, close to Gidan Dawa in Tsafe Local Government Area. The attack occurred while Moriki was travelling from Gusau to Kaduna, according to local sources familiar with the incident.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the gunmen blocked the politician's route and opened fire without warning, leaving no opportunity for escape or negotiation. The timing of the assassination has raised significant concerns, coming shortly after Moriki's participation in important political gatherings.
Official Confirmation and Political Aftermath
The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress officially confirmed the tragic incident through a statement released in Gusau. Comrade Yusuf Idris Gusau, the party's Publicity Secretary, signed the confirmation which detailed Moriki's final hours.
According to the party statement, the deceased had actively participated in an APC stakeholders meeting and a grand reception organized for Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, just before the fatal attack. The proximity of these events to the assassination has prompted serious questions about possible motives behind the killing.
In a demonstration of respect and solidarity, Dr Matawalle immediately suspended all scheduled activities in his hometown of Maradun to attend Moriki's funeral prayers. The minister joined numerous mourners who gathered to pay their final respects to the slain politician.
Profile of the Slain Political Stalwart
Hon Umar Sarkin Fada Moriki leaves behind a legacy of public service spanning several decades in Zamfara State. His political career included serving as Vice Chairman of Zurmi Local Government Area, followed by appointments as Director General of the State Revenue Generation and later as Special Adviser on Rural Electrification.
Within party circles, Moriki was widely regarded as a dependable and community-focused leader whose commitment to public service never wavered. The APC's tribute described him as "a philanthropist known for his simplicity, dedication and support for the less privileged".
Beyond his political engagements, Moriki was recognized for his charitable activities and calm public disposition, qualities that endeared him to both political associates and ordinary residents. He is survived by three wives and several children, who now mourn the loss of a patriarch and provider.
The assassination has triggered widespread grief and concern among political circles and local communities, with many expressing alarm about the deteriorating security situation in the region. Residents in Tsafe and surrounding areas have voiced apprehension about increasing incidents of armed violence along the route where the killing occurred.
Security agencies have launched a comprehensive investigation into the attack, though no information about the identity or motives of the attackers has been released to the public. The silence from security quarters has only heightened anxieties about the safety of political figures and ordinary citizens alike in the troubled region.
