Aondongu, who presents himself as a peace crusader, has again urged armed criminals in the Sankera area of Benue State to surrender and return to normal life. In a video he posted on Facebook, he warned that people should not blame him for whatever happens if they refuse. The message follows the exchange of words reported in our earlier coverage of the Sankera standoff, and it adds a new offer of help from his partner, identified as Shimanor.
Key points
- Aondongu says his campaign against criminality in Sankera will not stop until it succeeds.
- He asked why the criminals prefer to sleep in bushes instead of surrendering and living like other citizens.
- Shimanor, described as his partner, says his phone number is open to anyone ready to give up arms, and that he will help them reintegrate into society.
- Aondongu says criminals have given the Tiv people a bad name.
- The claims come from a Facebook video. DAILY TALK has not independently verified them, and no police comment was available at the time of writing.
What Aondongu Said in the Video
According to the video, Aondongu said the thought of why the criminals still do not see his determination weighs heavily on his mind. He insisted that his quest to end criminality cannot stop unless it is achieved. He then wondered aloud why the criminals would rather live in the bush than surrender and live as ordinary citizens.
His warning was direct. People who fail to surrender and repent, he said, should not blame him for whatever happens next.
An Offer of Help for Those Who Give Up Arms
The video was not only a warning. Shimanor, who is described as Aondongu’s partner, said his phone number is available to anyone who is ready to lay down arms and surrender. He promised to help such a person reintegrate into society.
For readers who are not familiar with the term, reintegration means helping a former fighter return to ordinary community life. It usually includes safe handover of weapons, protection from retaliation, counselling, skills training and acceptance by relatives and neighbours.
“A Bad Name for the Tiv People”
Aondongu also spoke about the personal cost of the crisis. He regretted that the criminals have given the Tiv people a bad name. He said the damage is so deep that whenever he introduces himself as a Tiv man, people look at him as if he were not human.
Understanding Sankera: A Short Background
Sankera is the common name for three local government areas in Benue State: Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo. A Blueprint report on the area described a surge in killings, kidnappings and banditry, and noted that many of the armed men come from within the local communities themselves.
The crisis has a long history. According to a Prime Progress report, the conflict began in 2015 when a militia group led by Terwase Akwaza, widely known as Gana, clashed with rival armed groups and security forces. The same report says Gana decided to surrender in 2020 but was intercepted and killed extrajudicially by the military on his way to Makurdi, an event that damaged trust in surrender programmes. The Sun newspaper also covered that episode in a report titled “Controversial end of a warlord”, which described how more than 100 people from the area had come forward for amnesty before the military intercepted the convoy.
Peace Efforts and Government Action
Many different actors have tried to bring calm to Sankera. The Prime Progress report describes how two Catholic clergymen, Reverend Father Michael Mchia and Bishop Isaac Dugu, led faith-based efforts that helped lead to the surrender of men linked to Gana and rival groups in 2024.
The state government has also spoken about the issue. 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 said it would explore both quiet and open measures to help Sankera return to peace. In a separate statement published on the Benue State Government website, the governor said his government would no longer guarantee an olive branch that he had extended to armed men in the area.
Editor’s note: This report is based on a video posted on Facebook and on the publicly available reports linked above. DAILY TALK has not independently verified the statements in the video, and does not endorse violence. Any person or institution named is welcome to respond.
