Friday, October 23, 2026 - The Nigerian Army troops has arrested a notorious criminal, Denen Joe, popularly known as DJ Abam, in Peva community, Taraba State.
The arrest has been described by residents of Peva and
surrounding communities as a significant development in efforts to end years of
alleged violence, extortion and criminal intimidation.
Abam, who was accused of operating a violent criminal
network in the area, was reportedly apprehended by troops of the Nigerian Army
following information provided by members of the community.
According to security analyst Zagazola Makam, accounts
circulating within the affected communities attributed a series of violent
crimes to the suspect, including kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling,
illegal taxation, unlawful detention, killings and the seizure of residents’
properties.
Residents alleged that Abam imposed illegal levies on
locals, extorted money from community members and participated in large-scale
cattle rustling and kidnapping operations.
He was also accused of issuing arbitrary judgments,
detaining residents without lawful authority and collaborating with other armed
groups to attack communities, burn houses and kill civilians.
One of the most serious allegations linked him to the murder
of the late Zaki Sylvester Peter Suleagbough, a respected clan head who was
reportedly targeted after speaking publicly against criminal activities.
Abam was alleged to have worked with another suspected gang
leader, Verior John Gata, in connection with the killing. The allegations have
not been independently verified.
The suspect was further accused of involvement in the
murders of Terfa Iwambe and Paul Hwakar Ayuba, as well as an ambush on special
forces personnel around September 2025, during which several security personnel
were reportedly murdered.
The exact number of casualties in the alleged ambush was not
specified in the accounts provided.
Other allegations against Abam include the seizure of residential compounds and
plots of land, collaboration with armed Fulani militants in attacks on
communities, and sexual violence.
Residents also alleged that the suspect frequently boasted
of unalibing security personnel and portrayed himself as beyond the reach of
the law.
The allegations, if established, point to a pattern of
criminal violence that reportedly left residents living in fear, with some
allegedly forced to flee their homes or surrender their belongings.
The reported arrest has therefore raised hopes among
affected residents that investigations could help establish responsibility for
past crimes, recover seized property and bring other suspected accomplices to
justice.
The Nigerian Army has continued to face the challenge of
dismantling armed criminal networks operating in vulnerable communities, where
residents often bear the brunt of killings, abductions, cattle rustling and
disputes over property.
However, the allegations against Abam remain subject to
investigation, and his arrest does not in itself establish guilt.
Authorities are expected to investigate the claims,
determine the suspect’s possible links to other criminal networks and ensure
that any prosecution is conducted in accordance with the law.
For residents who have endured years of insecurity, the
development represents a potential turning point in their efforts to reclaim
their communities from violence and intimidation.
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