The Kogi State Police Command on Thursday confirmed an attack by unknown gunmen on the family residence of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in Obeiba Community in Okehi Local Government Area.
The suspended Senator represents Kogi Central on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is in court with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over sexual harassment allegation.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that Akpoti-Uduaghan on Wednesday rebuffed a proposed out-of-court settlement mooted by Olisa Agbakoba, senior advocate of Nigeria, (SAN) counsel to Akpabio.
The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Miller Dantawaye, who confirmed the attack in Lokoja on Thursday, said the incident occurred on Tuesday night.
Dantawaye said, “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”.
Speaking on the development, Akpoti-Uduagha said:”the gunmen assumed I was in town and so attacked my family house that Tuesday night.”
“During the attack, security operatives and community members responded promptly and chased them off.
“No one was hurt. A report on the incident was quickly made at the police area command of the LG”.
A statement from her media team described the attack as a calculated attempt to silence her.
The statement urged 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.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan also narrated to SaharaReporters an account of the harrowing incident.
She said, “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 the one in town and attacked my family house that night. Thankfully, the civil defence team and community members responded promptly and chased them off. A report was made at the police area command, and no one was hurt.”
She urged the public to remain calm and not be intimidated by such violent tactics.