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ATTACK ON SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN CONDEMNED BY HURIWA

A brazen attack on the life of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by unidentified hoodlums wielding cutlasses and firearms has been condemned by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA). The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, in Obeiba-Ihima area, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State. National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, accused some dark forces who are scared of the truth of being behind the evil plot to assassinate Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. Onwubiko said, “We are calling for forensic investigations and the arrest of the attackers so they face the full weight of the law.” Onwubiko is demanding that the security agencies take all necessary measures to protect the senator. The attackers, numbering at least three, vandalized the building, including shattering window panes, around 1:00 a.m. A team of security operatives from Okehi Division swiftly mobilized to the scene, and preliminary investigations have commenced. Onwubiko called on the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services to ensure that no harm happens to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. “We urge all the aggrieved persons and her political rivals to follow the due process of the law and not resort to self-help measures,” Onwubiko emphasized. The motive behind the attack remains unknown as investigations continue, and the police have not made any arrests. HURIWA has expressed solidarity with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, stressing that her life must be safeguarded at all costs.

GUNMEN ATTACK SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN’S FAMILY HOME IN KOGI

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s family home in Obeiba-Ihima, Kogi State, was attacked by gunmen on Tuesday, April 15. The attackers, who mistakenly believed the Senator was present, vandalized windows in her grandfather’s house. Fortunately, security operatives swiftly responded and repelled the attackers. According to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, the incident occurred when her younger brother took contractors to inspect locations for upcoming projects in her senatorial district. “The unknown gunmen assumed I was the one in town and attacked my family house that night. Thankfully, the civil defence team and community members responded promptly and chased them off. A report was made at the police area command, and no one was hurt,” she said. The Senator’s Spokesman, Arogbonlo Israel, condemned the attack, describing it as a “calculated assault” in direct response to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s courageous stance against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she accused of sexual harassment. “We urge the Inspector General of Police to immediately reinstate her security details,” Israel added. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has called on the public to remain calm and support her pursuit of justice. “My dedication to speaking truth and representing my constituents should not be met with violence and intimidation,” she emphasized. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and the police have begun preliminary investigations.

BLACK TUESDAY IN OTUKPO COMMUNITY AS SUSPECTED HERDSMEN LAUNCH BRUTAL ATTACK ON OTOBI-AKPA IN BENUE STATE

Suspected armed herdsmen have launched a brutal attack on Otobi-Akpa in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. The attack occurred on Tuesday evening, around 5:30 p.m., with reports indicating that an unverified number of residents were killed and hundreds displaced. Hon. Angbo Kennedy, the lawmaker representing Otukpo-Akpa Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, confirmed the incident. A distressed resident, Edwin Emma, during a live broadcast on AIT, appealed for urgent government and security intervention, stating, “We are being attacked by herdsmen… My wife and children are fleeing as I speak.” This latest attack is not the first in the area, as Otobi, which hosts the Federal Ministry of Water Resources Multipurpose Dam, has faced multiple attacks this April. A security guard at the dam facility was reportedly killed days before this assault. According to reports, the guard’s killing was part of a troubling wave of violence that has gripped the Otukpo axis in recent weeks. Journalist Meddy Olotu described the scale of the attack as massive, alleging that over 100 armed assailants launched coordinated strikes across the community. As of the time of this report, no official statement has been released by the Benue State Police Command or other authorities, and casualty figures remain unconfirmed. This incident is the latest in a series of attacks in Benue State, which has suffered repeated assaults from suspected herdsmen over the years, leading to thousands of deaths and mass displacement of residents. In a similar incident, gunmen attacked three communities in Benue’s Otukpo LGA, including Okpomaju, Odudaje, and Asa 2, with residents fleeing into the forest for safety.

SENATOR DAVID MARK CONDEMNS HERDSMEN ATTACKS IN BENUE STATE

Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has condemned the recent attacks by suspected armed herdsmen in several communities in Benue State, resulting in loss of lives and destruction of properties worth billions of naira. In a statement, Paul Mumeh, Special Adviser to Senator David Mark, said Mark expressed concern over the attacks in various local government areas, including Otukpo, Agatu, and Gwer-West. “It is heartwarming that some of the beasts involved in the dastardly acts have been apprehended by security agents,” Mark said. Paul Mumeh noted that Mark urged for diligent investigation and prosecution of those involved. Mark called on youths to be vigilant and report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies, while cautioning against stereotyping or reprisal attacks on any group. “There should be no stereotyping of any ethnic group or reprisal attacks on any group of people due to these unfortunate incidents,” he stated. Paul Mumeh added that Mark commiserated with those who lost loved ones, saying “May their souls rest in peace”.

GUNMEN KILL 2, ABDUCT 13 IN BENUE STATE

A devastating attack occurred in Benue State on Thursday, April 3, 2025, when gunmen ambushed a Benue Links Nigeria Limited bus, killing two people and abducting 13 passengers. The incident happened near the Otukpo Burnt Bricks area in Otukpo Local Government Area. According to a statement by Johnson Daniel, Information Officer of Benue Links Nigeria Limited, the bus, with registration number PP512, was traveling from Makurdi to Otukpo when it was attacked. “Regrettably, the driver of the 18-seater bus, Mr. Samuel Agege, and a front-seat passenger were fatally shot by the attackers,” Daniel said. The management of Benue Links Nigeria Limited extended its condolences to the families of the deceased and those whose loved ones remain in captivity. “We assure the general public that we are in constant communication with security agencies, who are making concerted efforts to rescue the abducted passengers,” the statement read. Three individuals managed to escape the attack, and another passenger had disembarked at Taraku town before the incident. The Police Spokesperson for Benue State, SP Anene Sewuese Catherine, confirmed the incident, stating that more details would be provided soon. “A kidnap incident involving a Benue Links vehicle has been reported. More details will be made available shortly,” she said.

US LAUNCHES DECISIVE ATTACK ON HOUTHI MILITANTS IN YEMEN

The United States launched a massive military operation against Houthi militants in Yemen, targeting their military capabilities and infrastructure. According to President Donald Trump, the attack is a response to the Houthi’s repeated attacks on American vessels and merchant ships in the Red Sea. Trump emphasized that the US will not tolerate any further attacks on its interests, stating, “The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective.” The operation, which involved US warships and jets, targeted radars, air defense sites, and drone launch points across Yemen. A defense official described the operation as the beginning of a campaign to degrade the Houthi’s military capabilities, which have been used to disrupt commercial maritime traffic in the Red Sea. The official added that the US aims to restore freedom of navigation in the region and protect American interests. The attack is seen as a significant escalation in the US military’s involvement in Yemen, where the Houthi’s have been backed by Iran. Trump’s administration has been critical of Iran’s support for the Houthi’s and has warned Tehran to stop its involvement in the conflict. The US operation is expected to continue in the coming days, with officials indicating that the goal is to significantly degrade the Houthi’s military capabilities and restore stability to the region.

HERDSMEN ATTACK EBONYI COMMUNITY, KILLING MANY RESIDENTS

A devastating attack by suspected herdsmen on Amegu Nkalaha Community in Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi State has left many residents dead and several houses destroyed. The Chairman of Ishielu LGA, Mrs. Ifeoma Agwu, confirmed the attack, stating that the casualty figure is still unknown as evacuation of dead bodies is ongoing. Agwu “We are taking the victims’ bodies to the mortuary right now. I cannot talk much on it now. We will give more details later,” Mrs. Agwu said. According to reports, the attack is believed to be a reprisal for the recent killing of cows belonging to the herdsmen in the area. Prof Ndubuisi Idenyi, a member of the community, took to his Facebook page to express his shock and grief, stating, “My Village Amegu Nkalaha attacked today by Herdsmen. Many have been killed and houses razed to the ground. What a black Sunday!” In a telephone interview, Prof Idenyi revealed that the herdsmen attacked the community in the early hours of Sunday, killing and injuring an unknown number of people, as well as burning down houses. “I don’t have the number of casualties right now. We are still tracking and bringing out the dead bodies especially those killed in the farms,” he said. A source, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that a Pastor of a Pentecostal church and an evangelist in the area were among those killed in the attack. The source maintained that community members were not responsible for the killing of the cows, attributing it to members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the forest. “We did not kill their cows. They were killed by members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the forest,” the source said. The source further revealed that there had been tension in the community following the killing of the cows, with stakeholders making frantic efforts to prevent the attack. When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Joshua Ukandu, claimed he was not aware of the incident.

GUNMEN KIDNAP SEVEN PEOPLE IN BWARI AREA COUNCIL OF ABUJA

A daring kidnapping incident occurred in the early hours of Monday morning in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers abducted seven people, including a man, his wife, son, and two others, in the Chikakore area of Kubwa. The kidnappers, numbering about 30 and armed with AK-47 rifles, stormed the residence of one Adefija Michael Akinropo in the community at around 12:00 am. They abducted Adefija, his wife, son, and elder brother. In a separate incident, the gunmen also attacked a building housing a poultry farm in the same area. They kidnapped a man and injured his wife, who attempted to resist the attackers. The FCT Police Command has been informed of the incident, and an investigation is currently underway. When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, promised to provide more information about the incident. “Let me get details from the DPO, I will get back to you,” she said. The police are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist in the investigation. The kidnapping incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of residents in the area. The police are working to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice and that the community is protected from future attacks.