By Ademola Adekusibe
September 22, 2025
Tragedy struck in Otukpo, Benue State, in the early hours of Monday as Hon. Ejeh Udeh, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was assassinated in front of his family by gunmen yet to be identified.
According to eyewitnesses, the assailants, who arrived on a motorcycle, laid an ambush around Udeh’s Ugboju residence. At about midnight, shortly after he returned home, they surrounded him and fired multiple shots at close range while his wife and children watched in horror.
The attack occurred amid heavy rainfall, which prevented neighbors from intervening immediately. Residents later reported hearing sporadic gunshots that shattered the quiet night. By the time they rushed to the scene, Udeh was already lying in a pool of blood. He was confirmed dead shortly after being taken to the Otukpo General Hospital morgue.
Local Government Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri, described the killing as “a huge loss” to the community and condemned the brutal manner in which Udeh’s life was cut short. Party members in the area have also expressed shock, calling for urgent investigations.
As of press time, security operatives have yet to disclose the motive for the attack or confirm if any suspects have been apprehended.
Udeh’s murder has thrown Otukpo and its environs into mourning, with many describing the incident as another sign of rising insecurity in the state.
