A FORMER governorship candidate in Zamfara State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, on Friday, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Abuja.
The attack reportedly occurred shortly after Juma’at prayers as he was returning home.
According to Shinkafi, heavily armed, masked men dressed in black ambushed his vehicle and opened fire before fleeing the scene in an unmarked black Prado Jeep.
The incident has triggered widespread concern over the safety of prominent political figures and outspoken critics of insecurity in northern Nigeria.
In a strongly worded statement issued through the Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, Shinkafi alleged that the attempt on his life was linked to his “bold and patriotic” advocacy on national security issues, particularly the worsening insecurity in Zamfara.
“This was an unprovoked attempt on my life,” Shinkafi declared.
“But I will not be deterred by intimidation or harassment in the quest for national security, peace, unity, and social development.”
The security expert further disclosed that he had received multiple threatening phone calls earlier in the week, which he believes were connected to Friday’s attack.
Calling on the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the DSS, Shinkafi urged urgent investigations to identify and prosecute the perpetrators and their sponsors.
He condemned the incident as a violation of his fundamental human rights as guaranteed under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution, including the right to life and freedom of expression.
A well-known critic of banditry and kidnapping in Zamfara, Shinkafi has repeatedly advised families of kidnapped victims not to pay ransom, arguing that such payments only fund criminal groups with more sophisticated weapons.
A source told News Point Nigeria that Shinkafi’s stance, coupled with his open calls for stronger military operations in the North-West, may have made him a target.
“Notably, wanted bandit kingpin Turji Bello recently issued a public death threat against him in a viral video”, the source said.
Despite the attack, Shinkafi vowed to continue speaking against criminality, stressing that his advocacy is not only vital for national security but also for sustaining democracy and strengthening President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
As of press time, security agencies were yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
