Gunmen have reportedly killed Umar Moriki, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at Fegi village near Gidan Dawa in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara state.
The incident was said to have occurred in the early hours of Saturday while the politician was returning to Kaduna from Gusau, the Zamfara state capital.
On Friday, Moriki was among the APC stakeholders who attended a meeting and a reception organised in honour of Bello Matawalle, the minister of state for defence, who visited the state.
The APC chieftain was buried on Saturday.
In a statement on Saturday, Yusuf Gusau, spokesperson of the APC in Zamfara, commiserated with Moriki’s family over the incident.
“Late Umar Moriki attended the APC stakeholders’ meeting and the grand reception organised by the party in honour of the visiting minister of state for defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, who was in the state to meet with party members, associates, friends and relations,” the statement reads.
“During his lifetime, the deceased held various political positions in the state, including vice-chairman of Zurmi LGA, director-general of the state revenue generation, and special adviser on rural electrification, among others.
“He died at the age of 62 and is survived by three wives and many children.
“As a result of the tragic news, the visiting minister of state for defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, cancelled all his engagements scheduled for the day in his hometown of Maradun to attend the funeral prayer of the party chieftain.
“All APC leaders, executives, members and supporters have already arrived in Gusau to attend the funeral of the late leader, who contested the Zurmi/Shinkafi House of Representatives seat in the 2023 elections.”
