The Kogi State Police Command has issued a stern warning to the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to cancel her planned homecoming event to celebrate the Sallah festival with her constituents, citing security concerns.
The warning by the police is coming on the heels of a ban on rallies and processions by the state government on Monday, another directive which the embattled lawmaker refused to accept with an announcement on Tuesday that the event will go on as scheduled.
But in a statement on Tuesday by the Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, the force justified the ban imposed by the government, nothing that intelligence reports had uncovered plans by hoodlums to hijack the event and cause unrest.
“Following the intelligence report on security threats in Kogi State and the subsequent ban on all forms of rally and procession by the Kogi State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Police Command has called on the organisers of the planned rally at Okene to cancel such an event in the interest of peace in Kogi State,” the statement read.
It added that allowing Natasha’s homecoming event to hold could disrupt the prevailing peace in the state.
“The call for cancellation becomes necessary as intelligence reveals that some hoodlums plan to hijack the process and cause disturbance of peace in the state.
“The Command cannot afford to jeopardise the existing peace the state is currently enjoying.
“In view of the security threat received on the planned rally, the Kogi State Police Command is therefore advising the organisers to cancel the event so as to avoid any breakdown of law and order in the State.
“As the Command will not hesitate to apply the full wrath of law on any one who causes disturbance of peace and order in the State,” the police statement emphasized.
© Ripples Nigeria