Speaking with newsmen, Senator Natasha shared her version of events. She explained that her younger brother had taken some contractors to inspect sites for upcoming constituency projects earlier that day. The attackers, assuming she was the one present in the town, launched the night-time attack on her family house. “Thankfully, the civil defence team and community members responded promptly and chased them off,” she said.
Kogi, Nigeria – Unidentified gunmen have launched an attack on the family residence of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in Obeiba-Ihima, Kogi State, in what is believed to be a politically motivated assault.
The attackers, reportedly acting on false intelligence that the Senator was in town, vandalised parts of the house before being repelled by the combined efforts of civil defence operatives and members of the local community.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night, according to SaharaReporters, and targeted the ancestral home of the lawmaker’s late grandfather. Fortunately, no casualties were recorded, and a formal complaint was lodged at the police area command in the aftermath.
In a statement issued by her media team, the attack was condemned as a “brazen and calculated assault,” suggesting it may be linked to the Senator’s recent outspoken criticisms of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, including allegations of sexual harassment. “This calculated assault appears to be a direct response to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s courageous stance against Senate President Godswill Akpabio,” the statement noted.
The media team also urged the Inspector General of Police to reinstate the Senator’s security details to ensure her safety in light of the recent developments.
Speaking with newsmen, Senator Natasha shared her version of events. She explained that her younger brother had taken some contractors to inspect sites for upcoming constituency projects earlier that day. The attackers, assuming she was the one present in the town, launched the night-time attack on her family house. “Thankfully, the civil defence team and community members responded promptly and chased them off,” she said.
She further called on Nigerians not to be deterred by violent tactics, saying, “My dedication to speaking truth and representing my constituents should not be met with violence and intimidation. We call on the public to remain calm and support the pursuit of justice.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in the National Assembly, is known for her vocal advocacy on transparency, women’s rights, and justice in governance. However, she was controversially suspended from the Senate for six months earlier this year.
The attack comes just days after the embattled Senator had responded to a petition filed by Senate President Akpabio, who accused her of criminal defamation and incitement. The petition, dated April 3, 2025, was addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and also copied to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
In her response through her legal counsel, Victor Giwa, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that her public statements were not politically motivated but were expressions of genuine concern for her safety. She had, during a speech on April 1, 2025, in Kogi State, accused Akpabio of plotting her assassination by instructing former Kogi Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello to execute the plan in a way that would appear as though her constituents were responsible.
Akpabio, however, has strongly denied the allegation, describing it as a “heinous lie” and “reckless attempt” to damage his public image. In his petition, the Senate President labelled the accusations as baseless and politically motivated, calling on law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for defamation.
He also emphasised the potential impact of the claims, especially considering their wide dissemination across multiple media platforms, including radio, television, and social media.
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