In a statement issued on Friday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, the police said the investigation followed a report that unknown hoodlums attacked the family residence of the lawmaker in the early hours of Wednesday April 16.

The Kogi State Police Command said it has launched an investigation into the gunmen attack on the family house of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in Obeiba-Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of the State.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, the police said the investigation followed a report that unknown hoodlums attacked the family residence of the lawmaker in the early hours of Wednesday April 16.

According to the statement, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Miller Dantawaye, has directed the Deputy Commissioner in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to commence an immediate and discreet investigation into the incident to determine its cause and apprehend those responsible.

“This is consequent upon the distress call received from one Yakubu Ovanja, aide to Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on April 16 at about 3:30 a.m., reporting that around 1:00 a.m., three unidentified hoodlums armed with cutlasses invaded the family house and damaged several front window panes,” Ovye-Aya stated.

SaharaReporters had reported that armed men launched an attack on the family house of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in Obeiba-Ihima, Kogi State, in what appears to be a politically motivated incident. 

The assailants, believed to be targeting the Senator herself, reportedly vandalised windows in her late grandfather’s home before being repelled by a swift response from civil defence operatives and members of the local community.

It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the property on Tuesday night, under the false assumption that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was inside the house at the time of the attack.

A statement from the Senator's media team condemned the attack as a “brazen and calculated assault,” suggesting that the incident may be linked to her outspoken criticism of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she recently accused of sexual harassment.

On Friday, the police spokesperson stated that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Okehi Division promptly responded to the distress call of the attack and visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.

At the residence, a young man identified as Michael Akpoti recounted that the attackers used cutlasses to damage the windows while attempting to break into the house, but fled when he raised an alarm.

SaharaReporters had also reported that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, alleged that the assailants believed she was in town and targeted the family house on Tuesday night. 

She confirmed that the attack was thwarted by the swift response of security operatives and local residents.

“No one was hurt. A report on the incident was quickly made at the police area command of the LGA,” the senator had told SaharaReporters.

The police assured the public of their commitment to uncovering the truth behind the attack and bringing the perpetrators to justice.