The sudden death of Tagher Enoch Saakuma, popularly known as Zhyon, one of the most promising upcoming talents from Benue State, has left students and colleagues in shock. Zhyon was widely regarded as one of the biggest musical prospects from the state, with numerous songs to his name. His collaboration with Hman Swaqx was a breakthrough moment that brought him into the limelight and cemented his reputation as a rising star.
He was last seen at a series of cultural and musical events organized during the Tiv Students’ Week at Federal University Wukari.
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One of the event organizers, who was among the last people to interact with Zhyon, shared his account:
“Throughout last week, Zhyon was not in school because he attended an event at Tinenune. He was scheduled to perform during our Tiv Cultural Day celebrations. On Friday evening, he arrived late at the event and sat separately due to limited seating. The generator went off, and the program ended abruptly. The next morning, I saw him at the lodge with guest artists including Mr. Laazis, King Joe, Jaytee, and Succeeder Boy. We later recorded videos together and planned further studio sessions.
That evening, we ate together at the school gate. Zhyon was lively, laughing, and even promised to reimburse me for the food. Later that night, he visited my apartment around 11:30pm. Just hours later, by 6am, I received the shocking news that he had died. Witnesses said he shouted once around 5am and then went silent. His roommate was not present at the time.”
The organizer emphasized that Zhyon showed no signs of illness or distress during their time together, making his sudden passing even more difficult to comprehend.
Zhyon’s death is not only a loss to his friends and fellow students but also to the Benue music industry, which had begun to recognize his talent and potential. His artistry, energy, and collaborations had already set him apart as a voice to watch, and his absence will be deeply felt.
