NIGERIA: Natasha Defies Police Warning, Dares Kogi Govt As Large Crowd Graces Her Homecoming

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial district, Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, has gone ahead to stage her homecoming against police warning and ban on public gatherings by the government of Kogi State.

A massive crowd gathered at Ihima in Kogi Central on Tuesday, as a helicopter dropped Natasha’s husband, shortly followed by Natasha herself.

Prior to this, the state police command had warned Senator Natasha to cancel her planned Sallah homecoming rally in Kogi Central Senatorial District, citing security concerns and a recent ban on political gatherings by the state government.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Police Public Relations Officer ASP William Aya conveyed the directive from Kogi State Commissioner of Police Miller Dantawaye, emphasizing that intelligence reports suggested the event could be hijacked by hoodlums to cause unrest.

The police stressed that maintaining peace in the state was their priority, and urged organizers to comply with the order.

“The call for cancellation becomes necessary, noting that intelligence reveals that some hoodlums plan to hijack the process and cause disturbance of peace in the state. The Command cannot afford to jeopardize the existing peace the state is currently enjoying,” the statement read.

The police further warned that any attempt to defy the directive would be met with strict enforcement of the law to prevent a breakdown of order.

Despite the warning, Akpoti-Uduaghan has insisted that her visit is not a political gathering but a homecoming to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr with her constituents.

It remains unclear whether she will proceed with the event amid the heightened security concerns.