The suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has called on the inspector-general of police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun to reinstate her security aides following the attack by suspected gunmen on her family home in Kogi State.
She said in a statement released by her media office that the attack took place Tuesday during a visit by her younger brother, who was in town with contractors to inspect a constituency project site in her hometown of Obeiba-Ihima.
She said the assailants thought she was present at the location and targeted the house with that assumption.
“My younger brother took some contractors to my hometown in Ihima to inspect locations for upcoming projects I attracted to my senatorial district. The unknown gunmen assumed I was in town and attacked my family’s house that night.
“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. We urge the inspector-general of police to immediately reinstate my security details,” she said.
Her media office described the attack as a calculated one, meant to silence her.
“We urge the Inspector-General of Police to immediately reinstate her security details for safety, considering this heinous attack.
“We condemn the brazen attack on Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s family house in Obeiba-Ihima, Kogi on Tuesday, April 15.
“We call on the public to remain calm. Her dedication to speak the truth and represent her constituents should not be met with violence and intimidation,” the statement read.
Responding, the Kogi State Police Command yesterday confirmed that gunmen attacked Akpoti-Uduaghan’s family residence.
The state commissioner of police, Mr Miller Dantawaye, who confirmed the incident in an interview with NAN in Lokoja, said the command had been fully briefed and investigation had begun.
“The command has been fully briefed on the unfortunate and criminal incident by the Okehi LGA Divisional Police Officer. So far, no arrest has been made.
“Investigation into the incident has begun and we shall get to the root of it. We will deal with those criminal elements that carried out the attack,” the commissioner said.
Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s security details were withdrawn on March 6 following her suspension over a heated dispute with the senate president, Mr Godswill Akpabio regarding a new seating arrangement, which she claimed was deliberately meant to undermine her.
Tensions escalated after the senator publicly accused Akpabio, during a national television appearance, of punishing her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances.
She later took her case to a United Nations forum, accusing Akpabio of political victimisation.
Later, she accused the senate president and the former governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello of plotting to kill her.
