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Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Zamfara State, Alhaji Umar Moriki.
The incident occurred on Saturday morning along the Gusau–Tsafe highway, near Fegi village in Tsafe Local Government Area, while he was travelling from Gusau to Kaduna.
The Zamfara APC, led by Chairman Tukur Danfulani, confirmed the killing, describing it as a devastating loss to the party and the state.
In a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris, the late politician had attended a stakeholders’ meeting hosted by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, shortly before his death.
Read Also: I’ll Not Pay Ransom To Bandits – Gov Bago Urges Niger Residents
Moriki previously served as Vice Chairman of Zurmi Local Government Area, Director-General of a state agency, and Special Adviser on Rural Electrification. He was also an aspirant for the Zurmi/Shinkafi House of Representatives seat in the 2023 elections.
He died at the age of 62 and is survived by three wives and several children.
The APC described the deceased as a loyal party member and community leader who committed himself to public service.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has declared that he will neither negotiate with bandits nor pay ransom for kidnapped victims in the state.
He also urged the people to stand up and defend themselves.
Bago made the statement during a condolence visit to the people of Rijau and Magama local government areas, whose communities were recently attacked by bandits in Kontagora.
He emphasised that paying ransom would only encourage more kidnappings and worsen insecurity in the state.
