Zamfara State Chief of Staff Moukhtar Lugga Escapes Assassination Attempt After Coordinated Roadside Ambush

Zamfara Chief of Staff Moukhtar Lugga survived a coordinated ambush on the Funtua–Gusau road Thursday evening after gunmen opened fire on his vehicle.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 3, 2026, 5:55 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Politics Nigeria

Targeted Assault on the Funtua–Gusau Corridor

The Chief of Staff to the Zamfara State Government, Moukhtar Lugga, survived a life threatening encounter on Thursday evening when his convoy was targeted by unidentified gunmen. The attack took place along the notorious Funtua–Gusau highway, a stretch of road that has become increasingly volatile due to banditry and armed robbery. According to reports from a local Zamfara radio station, the ambush was a highly coordinated effort, with the assailants positioning themselves to strike the vehicle from several angles simultaneously. The incident occurred at approximately 6:16 pm near the Kucheri community.

A Narrow Escape Under Heavy Fire

Witnesses and local sources indicate that the armed assailants surrounded Lugga’s vehicle before opening fire. Despite the intensity of the assault, which left a visible bullet hole in the front windscreen, neither the Chief of Staff nor his driver sustained any physical injuries. The driver has been credited with exceptional presence of mind, as he managed to maintain control of the vehicle under fire and successfully steered it out of the kill zone. This tactical withdrawal enabled the government official to reach safety before the gunmen could close in further.

The Growing Insecurity in Northwest Nigeria

This assassination attempt highlights the persistent security crisis in Zamfara State, where high ranking government officials are increasingly becoming targets for armed groups. The Funtua–Gusau road serves as a critical artery for commerce and governance, but its reputation for ambushes has made it a symbol of the region's instability. While the motivations behind this specific attack remain unclear, it follows a pattern of violence aimed at disrupting the state’s administrative functions. The daring nature of an attack on a senior official's convoy suggests a high level of confidence among the criminal elements operating in the area.