Aondongu, who describes himself as a peace crusader, and his partner Shimanor arrived in Zaki Biam on Monday morning, only hours before a scheduled visit to Ayaba in Ukum Local Government Area. The trip follows days of public back-and-forth reported in our earlier story on Ichen and the planned Ayaba visit, and it has drawn attention across Benue State because of the tension surrounding the Sankera area.
Key points
- Aondongu and Shimanor arrived in Zaki Biam on Monday, 2 November 2026, ahead of the Ayaba meeting.
- In a Facebook post, Aondongu said he was waiting for the time of the meeting and that everyone was invited.
- He challenged three people he named, Matthew Zegebra, Full Fire and Chen, to come out today.
- He said that if they fail to appear, they should not “come out and make noise again”, and he used a derogatory comparison to women.
- DAILY TALK has not independently verified the post, and no police comment was available at the time of writing.
What Aondongu Posted
According to Aondongu’s Facebook post, which he shared as he arrived, he is in Zaki Biam on 2 November 2026 waiting for the time of the Ayaba meeting. He ended the message with an open invitation: “You are all invited.”
The post then turned to the people he has been challenging. He said that if the criminals in Ukum, and he named Matthew Zegebra, Full Fire and Chen in particular, do not come out today, they should not come out again and make noise.
Where Are Zaki Biam and Ayaba?
For readers outside the area, Zaki Biam is a well-known town in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, often described as a commercial centre because of its large market. Ukum is one of three local government areas, together with Katsina-Ala and Logo, that make up the Sankera intermediate area. A Blueprint report described Sankera as a region hit by killings, kidnappings and banditry, and noted that many of the armed men come from within local communities.
Ayaba is the community that Aondongu has chosen for today’s meeting. He has spoken about it in recent days as the place where elders, youths and others should gather, and as the venue where he says criminals should come out and surrender. Another report on this website, in which Aondongu accepted a face-to-face challenge from alleged bandit kingpin Zegebra, shows how the planned meeting came about.
The Government and Security Backdrop
The state government has repeatedly said it wants peace in Sankera. After a deadly attack on Ayati village in Ukum in August 2024, Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the violence and said his administration would continue to use lawful procedures to protect Benue people, as reported by Channels Television. The government has also published its position on armed groups in the area on the Benue State Government website.
Security forces have also been deployed. The ICIR reported that extra police personnel were sent to the three Sankera local government areas to curtail the activities of armed groups, and that a violent protest in Ukum led to the arrest of 18 people. Against this background, any large gathering in the area has the potential to raise security concerns, even when the organisers say their aim is peaceful.
What Surrender Would Require
Aondongu has said many times that he wants armed men to give up their weapons and live as ordinary citizens, and Shimanor has offered his phone number to anyone ready to surrender. For such an offer to work, the person coming forward needs to feel safe. That usually means a clear handover of weapons, protection from revenge, and support to restart life through farming, training or work.
What We Know and What We Do Not Know
What we know: Aondongu posted on Facebook that he was in Zaki Biam on 2 November 2026, waiting for the Ayaba meeting, and invited the public. He also named three people and challenged them to appear.
What we do not know:
- The exact time and venue arrangements for the Ayaba meeting.
- Whether any of the three named people will respond or attend.
- Whether the police or other security agencies will be present.
- Whether elders, clergy or government officials will take part.
DAILY TALK will update this story as more information becomes available. We have asked for comment from the relevant parties and will publish any response we receive.
The Bottom Line
Aondongu and Shimanor are in Zaki Biam, the Ayaba meeting is only hours away, and the people he named have so far not publicly responded to this post. What happens next will show whether public calls like this can lead to peaceful outcomes. For many residents, what matters most is simple: safe roads, working farms and the freedom to live without fear. For more on this developing story, read Aondongu’s reply to Ichen, and visit our Metro section for continuing coverage.
Editor’s note: This report is based on a Facebook post by Aondongu and on the publicly available reports linked above. DAILY TALK has not independently verified the statements in the post. Naming a person in this report does not mean they have been found guilty of any offence. Anyone named is welcome to respond.
