Zaki Mson, widely known as Matthew Zegebra, has told his followers on Facebook that he cannot fight the government, claiming that the peace crusader Aondongu Peter Suleagbough is bringing the entire government to Ayaba. The post is the latest twist in a story that has changed several times in a single day, following the earlier report that Zegebra withdrew from the planned face-off and said Ayaba is not a battlefield.
Key points
- Zegebra posted on Facebook that he cannot fight government, after asking Aondongu whether this is how he wants to play the game.
- He claims that Aondongu is bringing the entire government to Ayaba. DAILY TALK has not been able to confirm this.
- The post follows a video in which Zegebra appeared to put on charms and said he was ready to welcome Aondongu.
- No official comment from the police, the military or the state government was available at the time of writing.
- Zegebra is described as an alleged bandit leader by his critics. He has not been convicted of any crime to our knowledge.
What Zegebra Posted
According to the post, which circulated on Facebook on Monday, Zegebra addressed Aondongu directly and asked whether this is how he wants to play the game. He then said that he cannot fight government. The tone is very different from his earlier video, in which he was seen putting on charms and saying that the day had come and that people would know who is who.
The words suggest that Zegebra now believes that government forces, and not only Aondongu and his partner Shimanor, will be present in Ayaba. He did not say what he based this on, and he did not name any official, agency or unit. The post is unverified, and DAILY TALK cannot say whether it reflects real information, a rumour or a way of explaining why he may not appear.
Is Government Really Involved?
This is the central question, and the answer is not yet clear. Aondongu is a social media figure who calls himself a peace crusader, and until now the planned visit to Ayaba has been presented as his own initiative. In an earlier post he invited elders, youths and the public and said that fear must be removed in Ukum and Sankera. Nothing we have seen from the police, the army or the state government confirms that they are taking part in his visit or that they have deployed officers specifically because of it.
It is also worth noting that security forces are already active in the area. TVC News reported that troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation WHIRL STROKE, arrested two suspected suppliers to bandits and two suspected armed robbers in Katsina-Ala and Ukum on 28 October 2026. The ICIR had also reported earlier that police deployed extra personnel to the Sankera councils. This means that the presence of uniformed officers in the area could be part of routine operations.
Ayaba is a community in the Mbaterem area of Mbazum Council Ward in Ukum Local Government Area, part of the Sankera axis together with Katsina-Ala and Logo. Daily Trust reported that in August 2026 armed attackers invaded several villages in the area, including Ayaba, killing an unspecified number of people and forcing residents to flee. The area’s long troubled history is explained in a Prime Progress report, which traces the Sankera crisis to 2015 and describes the later role of faith leaders in bringing armed men out of the bush.
What We Know and What We Do Not Know
What we know: Zegebra posted on Facebook that he cannot fight government. Earlier today he posted a video saying he was ready for Aondongu. Aondongu posted that he was heading to Ayaba and had earlier arrived in Zaki Biam.
What we do not know: whether any government agency is involved in Aondongu’s visit, whether Zegebra will appear, whether the meeting will go ahead, and what the police and the military plan to do. DAILY TALK will keep following the story.
Editor’s note: This report is based on social media posts and publicly available news reports linked above. DAILY TALK has not independently verified the posts, and does not endorse violence. We urge the security to be aware that this may cause an unrest and should act to restore peace and order.
