Tension is rising in parts of Ukum Local Government Area after Zaki Mson, widely known as Matthew Zegebra, released a video on Facebook saying he is waiting for the arrival of the self-styled peace crusader Aondongu Peter Suleagbough and his partner, Shimanor, who are due in Ayaba today. The video comes after weeks of public exchanges, including the dare covered in our report on Aondongu accepting a face-to-face challenge from the alleged bandit kingpin Zegebra, and it has left many residents anxious, curious and divided.
Key points
- Zegebra posted a video on Facebook in which he is seen putting on charms and says he is ready to meet Aondongu and Shimanor at Ayaba today.
- His caption said the day had come and that people would know who is who, and he told Aondongu to stop “trying” his confidence.
- Earlier today, Aondongu posted that he and his team were on their way to Ayaba and that fear must be removed in Ukum and Sankera.
- Aondongu and Shimanor had already arrived in Zaki Biam ahead of the visit.
- DAILY TALK has not independently verified the videos or the posts, and no official comment from the police or the military 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, and he is free to respond to this report.
What Zegebra Said in His Video
According to the video, which circulated on Facebook on Monday, Zegebra appears to say that he is waiting for Aondongu and Shimanor. In the footage, he is shown putting on charms, which many viewers have taken to mean that he is preparing for a physical confrontation. His caption read: “The day has come, we will know who is who.” He then addressed Aondongu directly by his full name, Aondongu Peter Suleagbough, and told him to stop trying his confidence.
It is important to be clear about what this is and what it is not. The video is a social media post. It has not been confirmed by the police, the military or any independent witness. DAILY TALK cannot say for certain when and where it was recorded. We are reporting it because it is part of a public story that residents of Benue State are following closely. We do not endorse any call to violence, and we do not endorse the belief that charms can protect a person from harm.
What Aondongu Said Earlier Today
Aondongu, on his part, wrote on Facebook earlier on Monday that he was heading to Ayaba. He said that his team was coming and that fear must be completely removed in Ukum and Sankera today at all cost. That message followed an earlier post, reported in our story on Aondongu and Shimanor’s arrival in Zaki Biam, in which he said he was waiting for the time of the Ayaba meeting and invited everyone to attend.
Both men are therefore speaking in strong language, and both are speaking in public, to audiences of thousands of people online.
The Face-to-Face Challenge in Brief
The planned meeting began as a public dare. A self-styled peace crusader accepted a challenge to physically confront one of Sankera’s most feared alleged bandit leaders. Aondongu Peter Suleagbough reportedly agreed to meet Zaki Matthew Mson, widely known as Zegebra, on Monday, 2 November 2026. News of the arrangement spread quickly across social media and in local communities, and it has left residents of Benue State anxious, curious and divided.
Some people see Aondongu as a brave voice who wants to end the fear that has hung over Ukum and the wider Sankera area. Others worry that a public stand-off between two men, each backed by supporters, could turn into bloodshed and attract attacks on civilians. Others still are curious about whether the meeting will take place at all. Some residents simply want peace and are tired of hearing about violence.
The story has also changed shape in recent days. An earlier report on this website carried the headline that Zegebra withdrew from the face-off and said Ayaba is not a battlefield. His latest video gives a very different impression, since he now says he is waiting and ready.
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 videos or posts, and does not endorse violence. People named in this report have not been convicted of any offence to our knowledge and are welcome to respond. We call on the security agencies to act on this to avoid any possible attacks
