Former Zamfara State gubernatorial candidate, Sani Shinkafi, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Abuja on Friday, August 15, 2025. Shinkafi, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), reported that the incident occurred shortly after Juma’at prayers.
Shinkafi recounted that his vehicle was ambushed by masked assailants in an unmarked Prado jeep as he was heading home. He described the attackers as heavily armed and dressed in black.
The former gubernatorial aspirant attributed the attack to his outspoken stance on governance issues and the escalating insecurity in Zamfara State. He emphasized that he would not be cowed by any individual or group.
Shinkafi has been a vocal critic of criminal elements, including the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji. He stated, This was an unprovoked attempt on my life but I will not be deterred by intimidation or harassment in the quest for national security, peace, unity, and social development.
He also revealed that his Abuja residence had received numerous threatening calls from unknown numbers in the week leading up to the attack, which he believes are connected to the assassination attempt.
Shinkafi has appealed to the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to launch an immediate investigation into the incident.
