Defiant Homecoming: Natasha Akpoti’s Repeated Subversion of Security Warnings is Dangerous and People Could Get Hurt »

In open defiance of security advisories and a government ban, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central went ahead with a Sallah Day rally, once again prioritizing political optics over the safety of her constituents. Her latest action – widely criticized as reckless and politically motivated – recalls a near-identical crisis in 2023, when her interference almost compromised state security during a time of heightened terror threats.

On February 24, 2023 during the administration of then-Governor Yahaya Bello, the Kogi State Government, acting on credible intelligence, cut off a secondary access road in the Okehi axis. It would be recalled that an explosion rocked the Okehi local government secretariat complex on February 21, 2023. The police public relations officer, SP William Aya revealed at the time that gunmen had stormed the Secretariat around 5 pm and planted the explosion which ripped through the administrative block of the Secretariat.

The incident further heightened tensions which had remained high since multiple coordinated bomb blasts ripped through the Okene city centre area around the palace of the Ohinoyi of Egbiraland earlier on December 29, 2022. The incident, which happened just before a state visit by former President Muhammadu Buhari claimed three lives and sent shockwaves through the state and the nation, was linked to terror elements. In response, the intelligence community advised that certain routes be restricted to prevent a broader attack during the upcoming general elections of February 25, 2023.

Rather than support the state’s effort to forestall further bloodshed, Natasha Akpoti, then a contender for the Kogi Central senatorial seat as candidate of the PDP, mobilized her supporters to forcibly reopen the sealed road, claiming the closure was an act of political suppression targeted at her. In a rather shocking display of selfishness and disregard for her constituents, the Senator alleged that Governor Yahaya Bello had ordered the excavation of the roads to obstruct the elections and keep her hostage. The politician appeared uncaring that her actions subverted security agency warnings, nearly derailed carefully laid counter-terrorism operations and put entire communities at risk.

Fast forward to 2025, and history appears to be repeating itself. Last week, the Kogi State Government – already contending with communal crises in several communities, an upsurge in banditry and kidnappings and the heightened risk posed by the expected influx of sallah returnees – imposed a ban in at-risk communities across several local government areas of the state and banned all political rallies. This was based on fresh intelligence indicating plans by hoodlums to hijack public gatherings during the festive season. Echoing the government’s concern, the Kogi State police command issued a formal warning to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to cancel her planned homecoming rally. She defied the directive on Monday, and her supporters flooded the streets in a show of strength that security analysts have described as ‘a calculated provocation’ in an already tense environment.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, explained that the security measures were enacted to prevent the infiltration of terrorists and the use of fake security operatives to foment chaos. ‘This is not politics, this is security,’ he said. ‘We will not allow a repeat of the 2023 situation where safety precautions were flouted and roads were forcefully reopened at great risk to citizens.’

Observers have begun to question Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s persistent disregard for security protocols – especially during periods of elevated tension and credible threats. Her latest rally, held in defiance of police warnings and a curfew imposed by the Okehi Local Government Council, once again placed residents in harm’s way. Many warn that the deliberate politicization of public safety is not only irresponsible but deeply dangerous. ‘We were lucky when she did this in the past, we will not always be lucky if this trend is allowed to continue.’, said one.

The dangers of such behavior are far from abstract. Defying intelligence-led measures, as Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan did then by mobilizing locals to reopen a road sealed on security advice, is reckless and risks exposing the area to repeat or even more devastating attacks. The 2022 and 2023 bombings, even during a presidential visit when the nation’s best security apparati were out in full force remains a painful reminder of what is at stake, and what could happen if security warnings are flagrantly ignored.

It will be recalled that not long ago, Kogi Central – particularly the Okene and Okehi axis – frequently devolved into murderous crises. The violence claimed the lives of over 300 people, mainly youths, over the years. It took the iron-fisted security interventions of former Governor Yahaya Bello to bring the mayhem and bloodletting to a halt and restore peace, allowing several previously banned cultural activities to be restored in Kogi Central.

However, the region remains so volatile that unauthorized mass gatherings can quickly spiral into civil unrest during political events, cultural festivals or other festivities, like this week’s sallah festivities. We must remember that several incidents, including the senator’s ongoing recall, has the potential to ignite violence, especially when infiltrated by political thugs or opportunistic actors.

Beyond the physical danger of a breakdown in law and order, the senator’s actions erode public trust in security institutions and undermine the rule of law. Additionally, such defiance stretches already burdened security agencies, forcing them to divert critical resources from counter-terrorism operations to manage avoidable chaos.

This pattern of prioritizing political theatre over public protection must be curtailed. As Nigeria grapples with deepening security challenges, leadership must be exercised with responsibility and wisdom. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent actions do not reflect such virtues. Indeed, she appears uncomfortably cavalier about the people she claims to represent. If the tragedies of the past have taught us anything, it is that peace is fragile and must never be gambled for political gain. The people of Kogi Central deserve safety – and it starts with a leadership that respects it.

Written by Isah Amoto Ibrahim, a Concerned Constituent writes in from Adavi LGA.