A notorious gang leader, Ikyoga Joka Biam, whose reign of terror left security operatives and residents of Zaki-Biam town in fear, was shot dead on Monday morning, September 29, 2025 near the abattoir close to NKST Church in Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state.

Residents said the incident occurred just before 9 am., sending shockwaves through the bustling agricultural hub in the state.

Eyewitnesses revealed that there were scenes of panic as traders and residents fled for safety amid fears of reprisal attacks.

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

His death, however, has sparked mixed reactions among locals.

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

Zaki-Biam has seen a troubling rise in gang-related violence in recent months, with clashes between criminal groups disrupting daily life and threatening the town’s fragile peace.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the killing in a phone interview, stating, “It is not yet established whether Biam was killed by his own associates or by a rival group. The police are on the trail of those behind the killing.”

Security men have since intensified patrols in the area as investigations continue.

Residents remain on edge, hoping the death of the feared gangster will mark a turning point in the fight against organised crime in Ukum LGA.