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A former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Ochi Igbababe, is reported to be among the victims of the deadly overnight attack on Otobi-Akpa community in Otukpo Local Government Area.
The revelation came on Tuesday morning, January 13, 2026, from Benue Info-pedia, which confirmed that Igbababe was caught up in the assault that occurred around midnight on Monday. The attack, carried out by suspected herdsmen, left at least four persons feared killed and several others missing, with many residents forced to flee into surrounding bushes amid sustained gunfire.
Details surrounding Mr. Igbababe’s fate remain unclear at the time of this report, as community sources and family members have yet to provide an official confirmation of whether he survived the incident or is among the missing. The former politician, who contested under the PDP banner in a previous election cycle, is a known figure in Otukpo politics and had strong local ties in the area.
The latest violence follows a similar attack on the same community just months earlier, which claimed no fewer than 13 lives, left dozens injured or missing, and saw over 50 homes razed. Residents have repeatedly accused security agencies of failing to provide timely response or deterrence, with activist and citizen journalist Mr. Meddy Olotu stating that no security operatives were sighted during the hours-long operation on Monday night.
The inclusion of a prominent political figure like Ochi Igbababe among the victims has heightened concern across Benue State, drawing attention to the vulnerability of rural communities even for individuals with public profiles. Community leaders and political associates have begun calling for urgent investigations into the circumstances of the attack and renewed demands for stronger security deployment in Otukpo and other flashpoint areas.
As search efforts continue for those still unaccounted for, including possible updates on Igbababe’s condition, residents of Otobi-Akpa and neighboring settlements say they live in perpetual fear of further reprisals. The incident has once again spotlighted the persistent security challenges in Benue, where farmer-herder clashes and armed invasions continue to claim lives and displace families with alarming frequency.
Local stakeholders have urged both the state and federal governments to take decisive action to restore peace and protect vulnerable populations before more lives are lost.
