On Thursday, suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, raised concerns over an attack by suspected gunmen on her family home in Kogi State. She appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to restore her withdrawn security aides.

In a statement issued by her media office, Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that the incident took place while her younger brother was in town with contractors to assess a constituency project site in their hometown of Obeiba-Ihima.

She believes the attackers may have assumed she was at the location and deliberately targeted the residence based on that assumption.

The attack, which happened on Tuesday, resulted in the destruction of the property, a house the senator mentioned was originally her grandfather's. Senator Natasha had this to say:

“Two days ago, 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.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan called on the public to stay calm and back efforts to achieve justice, emphasizing that her dedication to serving her constituents should not be answered with threats or acts of violence.

On March 6, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had her security details withdrawn following her suspension after a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over a new seating arrangement, which she claimed was intentionally designed to undermine her.

The situation escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan publicly accused Akpabio during a national TV appearance of retaliating against her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances.

She later took her accusations to a United Nations forum, where she accused Akpabio of politically victimizing her.

The senator has since denounced what she describes as harsh measures, including the withdrawal of her security, salary reductions, and a six-month suspension from the National Assembly.

However, the Nigerian Senate defended its actions before the Inter-Parliamentary Union, insisting that her suspension was unrelated to the sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio.

Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, emphasized that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was a result of continuous misconduct and breaches of legislative conduct, including her refusal to sit in her assigned seat, speaking out of turn, and displaying disruptive behavior.

In a dramatic development, Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senate President Akpabio, and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello have all submitted police complaints against one another, accusing each other of involvement in an alleged assassination plot.

Akpoti-Uduaghan accused both Akpabio and Bello of planning to have her killed, an allegation both men vehemently denied. They, in turn, filed petitions urging the police to arrest and prosecute her for defamation.