In a tragic escalation of violence, suspected armed herdsmen have killed five people in Otobi community, located within the Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. The deadly assault, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, January 13, 2025, claimed the life of a former political candidate, marking another grim chapter in the community's struggle with insecurity.
Details of the Deadly Night Attack
The assailants struck at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 13, 2025. According to local sources, the attack came just hours after community patrol teams had withdrawn around midnight, leaving residents vulnerable. The gunmen, believed to be herdsmen, stormed the area and began shooting indiscriminately.
Among the five victims was Igbabe Ochi, a former House of Assembly candidate for the Otukpo-Akpa State Constituency. Ochi had contested the 2019 general election under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The attackers did not stop at the killings; they also looted food supplies and other valuables from nearby stores before fleeing.
A Community on Edge After Failed Kidnap Attempt
This violent incident was preceded by a failed kidnap attempt in the same community on the preceding Sunday night. That earlier event had put Otobi residents on high alert, prompting community volunteers and youths to organize night patrols to protect the area.
John Anyebe, the President of the Otobi Community Development Association, confirmed the attack to CHANNELS TV. He detailed the assailants' route, stating they entered the community via the railway station bridge from the Ijami area. "They first shot one person close to the water board before heading to where Hon. Igbabe Ochi and four others were seated near the transformer junction," Anyebe explained.
History of Repeated Violence in Otobi
Mr. Anyebe lamented that this was not an isolated incident for Otobi. He recalled that the community had suffered a severe attack on April 15, 2025, where 13 persons were killed. Merely two weeks after that massacre, three more residents lost their lives in an attack at the Omebe axis of the community.
This pattern of violence highlights the persistent security challenges facing rural communities in Benue State. The latest attack underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures and intervention to protect lives and property in the region.
