GUSAU, Nigeria (FN), The Chief of Staff to Zamfara State Governor, Moukhtar Lugga, narrowly escaped death Thursday evening when gunmen ambushed his convoy along the Funtua–Gusau highway, officials said.
The attack occurred near Kucheri village around 6:16 p.m. as Lugga was returning from an official engagement. Witnesses said armed men emerged from both sides of the road and opened fire in what appeared to be a coordinated ambush. A bullet pierced the windshield of Lugga’s vehicle, narrowly missing the driver, while another assailant reportedly attempted to fire at close range but his weapon failed to discharge. Lugga, his driver, and two aides escaped unharmed. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, and security agencies had not issued an official statement as of Friday morning.
Zamfara State has become one of the epicenters of violence in Nigeria’s northwest, where armed groups, often referred to locally as bandits carry out kidnappings, highway ambushes, and attacks on villages. The region has seen hundreds of deaths and mass abductions in recent years despite repeated military operations. Earlier this year, gunmen killed a senior staff member of Zamfara State College of Education even after his family paid a ransom of 20 million naira (about $13,000), underscoring the growing boldness of armed groups and the inability of authorities to deter them.
Officials in Zamfara condemned Thursday’s attack and pledged to strengthen security measures. “This incident shows the scale of the challenge we face,” said a senior aide in the governor’s office, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly. “If top government officials are vulnerable, ordinary citizens are at even greater risk.” Residents expressed fear that the attack on Lugga’s convoy highlights the deteriorating security situation. “If the Chief of Staff can be targeted, what hope do we have traveling these roads?” asked Musa Ibrahim, a trader in Gusau.
Nigeria’s northwest has long been plagued by violence, but attacks on senior government officials are rare. Security experts warn that the ambush signals a dangerous escalation. “Targeting high-ranking officials is a message from these groups that no one is beyond their reach,” said Kabiru Adamu, a security analyst based in Abuja. The Nigerian government has promised to intensify military operations in Zamfara and neighboring states, but residents say they see little improvement.
The survival of Zamfara’s Chief of Staff after Thursday’s ambush underscores both the resilience of his convoy and the fragility of security in Nigeria’s northwest. As investigations continue, the incident adds to mounting pressure on authorities to restore confidence and safety in a region where violence has become routine.
