***As as Suspect Confesses to Serial Assaults
Senator Natasha H. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s ancestral home in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, was attacked again on Tuesday night by armed assailants, reigniting public concern over politically motivated violence and deepening insecurity in the state.
The attackers, who stormed the property under the cover of night, vandalized windows and attempted further destruction before being confronted by a combined force of local police, community vigilantes, and youths. One suspect was arrested while several others escaped.
The apprehended suspect, identified as Suberu Jose — a native of the area — was found in possession of charms and a cutlass. According to community sources, Jose admitted to being part of three different attacks on the senator’s residence and was linked to political forces opposed to her influence.
Residents who apprehended him were on the verge of mob justice before police intervened. The suspect was taken into custody, marking the first arrest in the series of attacks that have targeted the senator’s family home.
Tuesday’s assault follows an earlier incident on April 15, 2025, which ended without arrests. Locals and analysts alike see this new development as a possible breakthrough in exposing the actors behind the targeted attacks.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has remained at the center of national controversy after accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, has recently faced criminal charges filed by the Federal Government. Her subsequent six-month suspension from the Senate has sparked widespread debate and allegations of political witch-hunting.
In response to the latest attack, her media office issued a statement urging constituents to remain calm and law-abiding, while reaffirming the Senator’s commitment to justice, democracy, and the protection of lives and property.
“The Senator’s voice for the oppressed must not be answered with violence and intimidation,” the statement read.
As police begin their investigation into the attack and hunt for the fleeing suspects, citizens across Kogi and beyond are calling for a transparent probe and stronger protections for public officeholders under threat.
