Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has raised concerns over an attack by suspected gunmen on her family home in Kogi State, calling on the Inspector-General of Police to reinstate her withdrawn security aides.
In a statement from her media office on Thursday, Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed that the attack occurred while her younger brother was in Obeiba-Ihima with contractors to inspect a site for a constituency project. She stated the attackers likely assumed she was present at the house, which originally belonged to her grandfather, and targeted it accordingly.
“The unknown gunmen assumed I was in town and attacked my family’s house that night,” she said. “Thankfully, the civil defence team and community members responded promptly and chased them off. A report has been filed at the police area command, and fortunately, no one was hurt.”
The senator urged the Inspector-General of Police to restore her security details, which were withdrawn on March 6 after her suspension from the Senate. The suspension followed a heated dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over a change in seating arrangement, which she claimed was intended to undermine her.
She further alleged that her suspension stemmed from her rejection of Akpabio’s alleged sexual advances—a claim she repeated at a United Nations forum, accusing the Senate President of political victimisation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan described the withdrawal of her security, salary cuts, and six-month suspension as harsh and punitive, emphasizing that her commitment to serving her constituents should not attract violence or intimidation.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Kafilat Ogbara, defended the Senate’s decision, saying the suspension was due to gross misconduct and repeated breaches of legislative rules—such as refusing to sit in her assigned seat, speaking out of turn, and unruly behaviour.
Adding to the controversy, Akpoti-Uduaghan, Akpabio, and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello have filed police petitions, each accusing the others of involvement in an alleged assassination plot.
The senator claimed both Akpabio and Bello were plotting to kill her, a charge both men denied, responding with petitions seeking her arrest and prosecution for defamation.
