Sankera Standoff: Aondongu Invites Elders, Youths to Ayaba, Tells Criminals to Surrender

Key Points at a Glance

• The promise: Aondongu says the visit will be peaceful and that no innocent person will be harmed.
• The warning: He says that if any criminal tries to shoot at his vehicle, he will not hesitate to bring that person down.
• The invitation: Elders, traditional rulers, youths and the general public are invited. Those who wish to attend should do so.
• The message to criminals: They should remain in their hideouts or come out to surrender.
• The assurance: His team will not turn Ayaba into a battlefield, as criminals had alleged.
• The appeal: He also asked for financial help to carry out the task he says he volunteered to undertake.
• The caution: All of this comes from his own video. No official body has confirmed any detail.

What Aondongu Said in the Video

According to the video seen by Daily Talk, Aondongu wanted to clear up what he described as misunderstandings about the Ayaba visit. His first message was one of calm. He said the visit would be peaceful and that no innocent blood would be shed.

He then spoke directly about the risk of an attack. In his words, if any criminal attempts to fire even a single bullet at his vehicle, he will not hesitate to bring that person down. Daily Talk reports this as his own statement. It should not be read as a recommendation. Under Nigerian law, the lawful use of force belongs to the police, the military and other authorised security agencies, and private citizens are generally expected to leave armed responses to them.

Aondongu also extended an open invitation. He said he had invited elders, traditional rulers, youths and the general public, and that anyone who wants to attend is free to do so. For criminals, he had a different message: stay in your hideouts, or come out and surrender.

“Ayaba Will Not Be a Battlefield”

One of the strongest parts of the video was his response to a claim made by the other side. When Zegebra pulled out of the planned face-off, he said Ayaba was not a battlefield. Aondongu answered that his team will not turn Ayaba into a battlefield as the criminals had alleged.

That line matters because many residents of Ukum and neighbouring areas fear that any gathering involving armed men could put ordinary families in danger. By saying the visit will not be a battlefield, Aondongu is trying to reassure them. Whether the assurance holds on the day is something nobody can promise in advance.

An Appeal for Money

In the same video, Aondongu pleaded for financial assistance to help him carry out the task he says he volunteered to undertake. Daily Talk has not published any account details or payment instructions, and does not endorse any appeal for money.

Readers are advised to be careful. In tense situations like this, fraudsters sometimes copy a public figure’s name, photos or videos to collect money from well-meaning people. Anyone considering a donation should first confirm that the request really comes from the person named, through official channels or trusted local leaders, and should avoid sending money to unknown accounts.

How the Zegebra Challenge Began

To understand why the Ayaba visit has drawn so much attention, it helps to go back to how the standoff started.

Aondongu Peter Suleagbough emerged about three months ago as a self-styled peace crusader in Sankera, the area that covers Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo local government areas of Benue State. He warned armed robbers, kidnappers and bandits to drop their weapons and return to peaceful lives, or face the consequences.

Several alleged bandit leaders, including those known as Ichen, Full Fire and Zegebra, reportedly dismissed his warnings as empty intimidation. Instead of backing down, they were said to have challenged him to a physical confrontation at a neutral location in Zaki Biam.

Aondongu accepted the dare. A venue was later discussed, although reports suggested it was in the home village of Zegebra himself, which led many people to ask how neutral the ground really was. In a Facebook post, Aondongu then named Ayaba, in Ukum, as the place where he would appear on Monday, November 2, 2026.

The announcement raised a series of questions across the state. Would the police and the army allow a public showdown involving alleged armed men? What would happen to innocent villagers if violence broke out? Would Aondongu go alone, with escorts, or under official protection? Could the whole arrangement be a trap?

A day before the planned meeting, Zegebra stepped back. In a report on his decision, Daily Talk explained that Zegebra withdrew from the face-off, saying Ayaba is not a battlefield. He reportedly suggested other locations instead. Aondongu did not change his plan.

Ichen’s Claim of Going Into Hiding

The next twist came from Ichen, another alleged bandit leader in the Sankera axis. According to accounts reaching Daily Talk, Ichen said he had gone into hiding because he feared what he called the unknown. He reportedly claimed that armed fighters had been mobilised ahead of Aondongu’s visit and said nobody could find him no matter how they searched.

That claim has not been verified. It is also important to treat any reference to the background of unnamed fighters with care. Criminal acts are carried out by individuals and criminal gangs, not by whole communities or ethnic groups, and Benue residents of every background have suffered from insecurity in Sankera. Daily Talk repeats Ichen’s reported words only because they are part of the story, and does not endorse them.

Such statements may be exaggerated, used as propaganda, or meant to shift blame in advance of a violent incident. For that reason, they should be treated with caution until security agencies or independent sources confirm them.

Aondongu’s Condition for Freedom

Aondongu replied to Ichen in a Facebook post. He addressed the man as “Sada Tor a.k.a Chen I Tiv” and said that if he wants freedom, he knows what to do. He then asked why Ichen insists on keeping firearms and whether he is a security officer.

The message set out a simple condition: freedom, in Aondongu’s view, depends on giving up weapons. He did not explain in detail what freedom would mean, and Daily Talk has not been able to ask him. Some readers see it as an invitation to surrender and return to civilian life. Others see it as a warning. The new video repeats the same theme, with its call for criminals to come out and surrender.

Past experience in Nigeria suggests that disarmament works best when the state organises it, community leaders support it and practical help such as jobs and training is offered. Under Nigerian law, civilians generally need a licence to own firearms, and illegal possession is a criminal offence. Nobody named in this report has been convicted of any crime.

Why Ayaba Matters

Ayaba is a community in Ukum Local Government Area, one of the three councils that make up the Sankera axis. Like many villages in the area, it sits within a landscape that has experienced years of insecurity. Residents of such communities often say they feel caught between criminal groups on one side and a limited security presence on the other.

A gathering of any size in a place like Ayaba carries risk. Crowds can attract attackers. Rumours can spread quickly and cause panic. Because of this, security experts generally advise against large public gatherings in areas where armed groups operate, unless the police and the military have secured the venue in advance.

That is why Aondongu’s open invitation to the public has drawn mixed reactions. Some say a large, peaceful crowd of elders and youths could show that ordinary people refuse to live in fear. Others worry that inviting the public to a place where armed men may be present puts families at risk, especially women, children and the elderly.

The Wider Unrest in Sankera

The story of Aondongu, Zegebra and Ichen is only the latest chapter in a long and painful history. Sankera has been one of the most troubled parts of Benue State for more than a decade.

The Roots of the Crisis

Reports trace the modern conflict to around 2015. A militia led by Terwase Akwaza, popularly known as Gana, clashed with rival armed groups and with security forces. After the military killed Akwaza in 2020, his former associates reportedly split into rival factions, a development that many observers say made the security situation more complicated and more unpredictable.

Bans, Curfews and Court Battles

As attacks continued, the state government tried several measures. The Benue State Security Council banned motorcycles in Katsina-Ala and Ukum “till further notice” and ordered security operatives to arrest violators and impound their machines. Tricycles, popularly called Keke, were allowed to continue operating.

The ban was later extended to all three Sankera councils. Then-Governor Samuel Ortom also banned old-model Toyota Corolla cars, nicknamed “duck nyash,” after the killing of Dr. Terkula Suswam. Officials said the attackers had used a motorcycle and that type of car. A dusk-to-dawn curfew was also imposed on Ukum and Katsina-Ala after persistent attacks that led to many deaths.

The policy did not go unchallenged. A High Court in Gboko set aside the Security Council’s order, and Ortom directed that the ban be lifted in Sankera. Later, the state restricted okada operations statewide to between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., citing the movement of suspected bandits fleeing other states.

Attacks That Shook the Community

Violence has continued despite these measures. In August 2024, police confirmed that bandits attacked Ayati village in Ukum Local Government Area, leaving 15 residents dead, along with two police officers who responded to the distress call, according to a report in THISDAY. Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the killings and expressed concern that such attacks were continuing despite the presence of security agents and regular dialogue with stakeholders and traditional rulers.

More recently, Premium Times reported that nine people died in fresh attacks in Benue, days after killings in Otukpo. A source quoted in that report said the Sankera axis has become a shadow of itself because of insecurity, and that some communities had been deserted.

The Human Cost

Behind every headline are real families. Community elders have said that almost all schools and health facilities in Sankera have been closed for nearly a decade. Farmers have abandoned their land. Traders have left. Children have missed years of schooling. Young people have grown up in an environment where fear is part of daily life.

Governor Alia has said that local bandits rejected his peace overtures. Even so, Catholic priests have reportedly persuaded some armed men to lay down their weapons since 2023, which shows that dialogue and trust-building can sometimes succeed where force alone does not.

Different Views Across Benue

Opinion across the state remains divided about Aondongu’s approach.

Supporters say he is speaking for ordinary people who are tired of living in fear. They argue that years of official promises have not delivered peace, and that a bold public stand, even a risky one, has pushed the conversation back into the open. They welcome his call for criminals to surrender.

Critics say peace cannot be built through public dares, social media videos and warnings of armed responses. They worry that the standoff raises the chances of reprisals and distracts from the work of security agencies. Some are uneasy about appeals for money and about the involvement of politicians, noting that the 2027 elections are approaching.

Neutral observers say that whatever one thinks of the method, the episode highlights a deeper problem: many communities feel the state has not done enough to protect them, which creates space for self-styled saviours and for rumours of every kind.

Security Agencies Under Pressure

With the visit only hours away, pressure is growing on the police, the army and other agencies. Residents want to know:

• Will security forces be deployed to Ayaba and nearby communities?
• Will they protect those who attend, or advise against the gathering?
• Will they investigate the claims and threats made by all sides?
• Will they reassure residents who may be afraid to leave their homes?

At the time of publication, there was no official response. Nigerian law is clear that only the state may lawfully use force. Most peace-building specialists recommend dialogue, community trust, structured disarmament and the involvement of traditional rulers and religious leaders.

Advice for Residents

In a tense environment, rumours can be as dangerous as bullets. Residents and readers are encouraged to:

• Rely on official statements from the police, the army and the state government.
• Think carefully about their own safety and that of children and elderly relatives before joining any large gathering.
• Avoid forwarding unverified messages, photos or videos.
• Refrain from blaming any ethnic or religious group for the actions of criminals.
• Report suspicious activity to the nearest police station or through official emergency lines.
• Be careful about appeals for money and verify them before sending anything.

What Happens Next

All eyes are now on Monday, November 2, 2026. The visit could go ahead peacefully, as Aondongu promises. Security agencies could intervene and restrict access to Ayaba. Plans could change after talks with community leaders or officials. Or tension could rise if armed groups respond in unpredictable ways.

Whatever happens, this episode has put Sankera back in the national spotlight and raised hard questions about how Nigeria should deal with armed groups, protect rural communities and rebuild trust between citizens and the state. Daily Talk will continue to follow the story and publish verified updates.