Suspended Sen. Natasha Links Home Invasion To “Courageous Stance Against Injustice”
In a disturbing development that has sparked widespread concern, unidentified gunmen attacked the family residence of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, in the early hours of Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
The incident, which occurred around 1:00 a.m., involved at least three assailants armed with firearms and cutlasses, who vandalized the property—shattering windows and damaging parts of the building.
Eyewitnesses and sources familiar with the attack reported that the gunmen stormed the senator’s ancestral home under the mistaken belief that she was in town. Their actions triggered panic in the Obeiba-Ihima community. Fortunately, no casualties were recorded. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Chief Security Officer, Yakubu Ovanja, quickly notified security authorities, prompting a rapid response from officers of the Okehi Police Division. A preliminary investigation has been launched, though the motive for the attack remains unclear.
Speaking publicly about the incident on Thursday, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan condemned what she described as a “brazen attack,” suggesting it may have been politically motivated. In a statement titled “Gunmen Attack Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Family House”, the senator recounted that two days before the attack, her younger brother had taken contractors to inspect project sites in her hometown—a visit that may have led the attackers to assume she was present.
“Armed men, mistakenly believing the Senator was present, vandalized windows in her grandfather’s house. Fortunately, security operatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and local residents swiftly responded and repelled the attackers,” the statement read.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan linked the incident to her ongoing public feud with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she accused of sexual harassment—a claim Akpabio has denied. Her allegations led to a six-month suspension from the Senate in March 2025 for alleged misconduct, sparking national debates on legislative accountability and gender equity in politics. She has also faced a failed recall attempt by some constituents, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dismissed due to insufficient support.
“The calculated assault appears to be a direct response to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s courageous stance against injustice,” the statement added. “Her dedication to speaking truth and representing her constituents should not be met with violence and intimidation.”
The senator called on the Inspector General of Police to urgently reinstate her security detail to safeguard her and her family amid growing safety concerns.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert, confirmed that police are working to identify and apprehend the perpetrators, although no arrests had been made as of press time.
Meanwhile, police authorities have urged residents of Okehi LGA and the wider Kogi Central Senatorial District to remain calm, assuring the public that investigations are ongoing and that every effort will be made to bring the culprits to justice.
