Benue: the notorious gang leader shot dead

A notorious leader of the gang, Ikyoga Joka Biam, whose kingdom of terrorism left the safety agents and residents in the city of Zaki-Biam in fear, was killed with firearm shots on Monday morning, 29 September 2025 near the slaughterhouse near the church of Nkst in the area of ​​the local government of Ukum (LGA) by Benue State.

The residents said the accident occurred shortly before 9 in the morning, sending shock waves through the lively agricultural hub in the state.

Ocular witnesses revealed that there were panic scenes while the traders and residents fled for safety among the fears of retaliation attacks.

Biam, long feared for his involvement in violent criminal activities, had become a symbol of illegality in the region.

His death, however, has aroused conflicting reactions between the premises.

While some described him as a reformed figure who had moved away from crime, others insisted on the fact that he had resumed his old ways, making him a target in the ongoing grass wars between rival gangs.

Zaki-Biam has seen a worrying increase in the violence linked to the band in recent months, with classes between criminal groups that interrupt daily life and threatening the fragile peace of the city.

The Public Relations Officer of the Police, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the murder in a telephone interview, affirming: “It is not yet established if Biam has been killed by his own collaborators or by a rival group. The police are on the traces of those behind the murder”.

Since then, security men have intensified patrols in the area while investigations continue.

The residents remain at the limit, hoping that the death of the feared gangster will mark a turning point in the fight against the crime organized in the UKUM LGA.