Otukpo Under Siege: Ambassador’s Murder Highlights Nigeria’s Security Crisis
OTUKPO, April 2nd, 2025. The Asa Community, on the outskirts of Otukpo in Benue State, is once again in the spotlight following the tragic murder of Amb. Akatu Onche, former Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland, underscoring the area’s pervasive insecurity. On March 31st, armed men, identified by witnesses as resembling Fulani herders based on their dialect, launched what appeared to be a targeted attack on Amb. Onche’s compound. Just last month, several farmers in the community were also attacked with machetes by presumed Fulani herders.
Reports indicate that Amb. Onche, upon hearing gunshots, attempted to secure his gate but was confronted by the attackers. He was initially shot in the leg before being brutally attacked with a machete, including an attempted throat slashing. Following the attack, two of his family members were abducted and remain missing. Amb. Onche died the following day from his injuries.
The murder underscores a critical issue: the escalating insecurity in Otukpo, stemming from the ineffectiveness of law enforcement. Residents live in fear due to the unchecked activities of bandits, including the Fulani herdsmen, whose actions include maiming and killing. The lack of an effective security strategy has created an environment of constant fear, deterring residents from farming and other economic activities, further exacerbating poverty in Otukpo and its surroundings. The situation is further complicated by religious tensions.
This situation reflects broader failures in governance and security across Nigeria. In Osun State, the local government-sanctioned security initiative, Amotekun, was established to address insecurity in response to the failures of national security forces. The resort to “jungle justice” by some Nigerians, such as the killing of suspected bandits in Uromi, Edo State, highlights the perceived failure of the formal law enforcement system to protect its citizens. The Nigerian state, struggling with banditry, terrorism, and fragile institutions, faces a critical challenge in restoring security and the rule of law.
Otukpo, despite being the home of prominent figures like former Senate President David Mark and the ancestral home of the Idoma people, is experiencing a rising crime rate. This is driven by ineffective law enforcement and widespread poverty, pushing young people towards armed robbery and banditry. The sensitive dynamic between farmers and herders, often intertwined with religious tensions, threatens to spiral out of control if not properly managed. Traditional rulers may have a role to play in addressing these security challenges.
Otukpo’s historical significance as the ancestral home for the Idoma people and the seat of the Ochi-Idoma, the paramount ruler of the Idoma, is overshadowed by the current security crisis. Addressing this insecurity is crucial not only for the safety of its residents but also for preserving its cultural heritage.
