Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has received a death threat days after returning to the Senate following her suspension, amid growing security concerns and past attacks on her home.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has received a death threat containing explicit and abusive language, just days after resuming plenary at the National Assembly following a six-month suspension.
The threat, sent via iMessenger by an individual identified as Tobechi Okwuonu using the email address mailtobex2000@yahoo.com, described the senator as a “corpse” and warned that her death was imminent.
The message, titled “There Is No Nigerian Senate,” read in part:
The sender further added:
Return to Senate After Six-Month Suspension
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return to the Senate on Tuesday, October 7, marked the end of a prolonged standoff that began after she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment earlier in the year.
In March 2025, the senator was suspended for six months over alleged misconduct following her protest against the Senate leadership’s decision to reassign her seat and her public allegations against Akpabio.
During her suspension, her office was sealed, security details withdrawn, and she was barred from all Senate activities.
Upon her return, Akpoti-Uduaghan was accompanied by civil society activists, including Aisha Yesufu, and maintained that she owed no apology for her actions. She described Akpabio as a “dictator” and vowed to continue speaking out against injustice within the legislature.
Growing Security Concerns
The latest threat adds to the senator’s growing list of security concerns. In April 2025, heavily armed men reportedly attacked her family home in Obeiba-Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State. The assailants allegedly stormed the compound late at night, firing sporadically and causing panic among residents.
Although no casualties were reported, the incident heightened fears for the senator’s safety and prompted calls for increased security protection.
Calls for Investigation
The death threat has sparked widespread condemnation, with political observers and civil society groups urging the Nigeria Police Force and Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the source of the message and ensure the senator’s safety.
Security analysts have warned that such threats against public officials could undermine democratic institutions and discourage accountability within the legislature.
As of press time, neither the Senate leadership nor the security agencies had issued an official statement regarding the threat.
