Otukpo

Otukpo is a town in Benue State, Nigeria located in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria. Otukpo is the headquarters of the Otukpo Local Government Area. It was the headquarters of the former Idoma Province, and remains an important town in Idomaland, the area mainly populated by the Idoma speaking tribe, though with numerous local dialects spoken in the diverse reaches of Idoma land. Idoma language is the umbrella lingua. It is the seat of His Royal Highness the Och' Idoma, the Paramount Chief of the Idomas. Prominent sons of Otukpo include HRH Ogiri Oko, HRH Elais Obekpa, Chief B.O Attah, Sen. Adejo Ogiri, Col. Anthony Ochefu, Comrade Abba Morro, Chief Audu Ogbe, Sir Abu Obe to name a few. Bongos Ikwue, Tuface Innocent Idibia, BlackFace, Six Foot Plus, Enenche the Comedian are some on many prominents artistes that hail from or have their roots in Otukpo. Prominent families include the Onojas, Obeya's, Ogiris, Ochefu's,Elaigwu's, Oche's, Adejo's, Edache's, Agbo's to name a few. Another prominent family is the Akatu Augustine Alechenu family. He was the mayor of Otukpo who brought Otukpo and Idoma into prominence. He brought pipe borne water, electricity and roads and telephone and schools to Otukpo. He introduced the practice of environmental sanitation called keep Otukpo Town Clean well before any other town in Nigeria. He encouraged sports like Lawn Tennis and and table tennis, and established the first lawn tennis club in Otukpo. Chief Ella Abogonye was also a prominent son of Otukpo. He provided free medical care for the people of Otukpo during his lifetime through his clinics.