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Zaki Biam, the bustling commercial hub of Ukum Local Government Area in Benue State, is no longer a place of peace. Residents are living in raw fear as kidnappers, cultists, and motorcycle thieves have turned the once-vibrant community into a den of terror, with extortion calls and nighttime abductions now part of daily life.
Over the weekend, a community source speaking anonymously to a Vanguard correspondent revealed that locals are receiving coordinated phone calls from unknown numbers demanding ransom payments, with chilling threats of abduction if they refuse. “People are scared because these callers sound serious and very coordinated. We need urgent help before things get out of hand,” the source pleaded.
The insecurity has been fueled by the activities of a suspected cult group that reportedly holds meetings—both daytime and late into the night—at a shop belonging to its alleged leader, located at the former State Security Service (SSS) office along the Yam Market bypass. “These boys meet both during the day and very late at night. Their activities are suspicious, and everyone in the area is worried about what they are planning,” the source added.
Motorcycle theft has also skyrocketed, with thieves targeting riders under the cover of darkness. With motorcycles being a lifeline for transport and livelihood in the area, residents now avoid moving after dusk. “Because all the motorcycle thefts have happened at night, people no longer move around freely once it gets dark,” he said.
The fear reached a boiling point with a reported case of a POS operator who was allegedly forced to pay ₦100,000 after being threatened with kidnapping. “Imagine receiving a call telling you to send money or you will be taken away. That is the kind of fear people here are living with every day,” the source lamented.
Desperate for help, residents are making passionate appeals to the state government and security agencies to intervene urgently. “We are appealing to the government and security operatives to come to our rescue. Lives and property are no longer safe, and something must be done urgently,” he cried out.
Efforts to get an official response from the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
As Zaki Biam bleeds, the silence from authorities grows deafening. The people can only hope that help arrives before the next call—or the next abduction.
