Gunmen, in the early hours of Tuesday, reportedly invaded and vandalised the family house of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, located in Obeiba-Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, causing tension in the area.
Sources familiar with the incident said the armed assailants, acting on the assumption that the Senator was in town, stormed the premises and shattered the windows of her grandfather’s house. Fortunately, security operatives quickly intervened and repelled the attackers before any casualties were recorded.
Reacting to the development, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a statement issued Thursday, described the incident as a targeted attempt to intimidate her following her recent outspokenness on sensitive issues.
“This calculated assault appears to be a direct response to my courageous stance against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom I recently accused of sexual harassment,” the statement read.
She also called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately reinstate her security details, which she said were previously withdrawn.
Narrating the events that led to the attack, Senator Natasha said:
“Two days ago, my younger brother took some contractors to Ihima to inspect sites for projects I attracted to the senatorial district. The unknown gunmen assumed I was the one in town and attacked my family house that night. Thankfully, the civil defence team and community members responded promptly and chased them off.”
She added that the matter was immediately reported to the police area command and confirmed that “no one was hurt.”
The Senator urged her supporters and members of the public to remain calm and called for justice.
“We call on the public to remain calm and support the pursuit of justice. Violence and intimidation cannot silence the truth or my commitment to serve the people of Kogi Central.”
Efforts to reach the Kogi State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP William Ayah, proved abortive as calls to his mobile phone went unanswered.
