Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, has condemned the alleged intimidation of a woman reportedly facing threats after raising concerns about a children’s storybook said to contain depictions of cruelty.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the lawmaker described the reported threats as unacceptable and called for immediate intervention to protect the woman.
“My attention has been drawn to a distressed woman reportedly being threatened over concerns she raised about a children’s storybook containing graphic cruelty,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said.
She emphasised that materials designed for children must be carefully curated to avoid exposing young minds to disturbing or harmful themes.
“Content intended for children must never be distressing, confusing, or inadvertently normalize violence… especially toward animals. Safeguarding young minds is a shared responsibility,” she added.
The senator also defended the rights of parents to scrutinize educational and recreational materials accessible to their children, urging stakeholders in the education and publishing sectors to act responsibly.
“Parents have every right to question and vet the materials their children are exposed to. Likewise, publishers and business owners must remain open to feedback, while the Ministry of Education and its agencies must be proactive in ensuring that all educational materials meet appropriate standards,” she stated.
Nigerian Mother Says She Is ‘In Hiding,’ Alleges Threats After Criticising Content Of Children’s Book In Viral Video
Akpoti-Uduaghan further called for accountability, stressing that intimidation tactics against concerned citizens would not be tolerated in a democratic society.
“Threats or intimidation over such concerns are unacceptable,” she said.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that a Nigerian mother had raised an alarm over alleged threats to her life and the reported arrest of people around her after she posted a viral video questioning the content of a children’s book.
In videos shared online, the woman said she was now in hiding and feared for her safety, claiming that individuals close to her had been detained for questioning.
“Good day, Nigerians. And I think this period now, my life is being threatened,” she said. “Everybody around me now, the police people are carrying them, investigating them, because of the video I made about this book.”
The mother explained that her initial video was prompted by a passage she read in her child’s book, which she believed was inappropriate for young readers. According to her, the story describes an old man punishing a dog by burning its nose with a hot iron after it failed to guard meat.
She noted that the passage made her come online.
“As a first-time mum, my children are my priority,” she said.
“And I read this. And I came online to ask a question, that is this the book that they are reading now? I only asked a question, if it is the book that they are reading now, and if it is, it doesn't sit well with me.
“And now, they called me, when that thing went viral, they called me to take down the post.”
She stressed that her intention was simply to seek clarification, not to cause controversy.
The video quickly gained traction, after which she said she began receiving calls from individuals, including someone who identified himself as a lawyer, asking her to delete the post.
“They told me to bring it down, and I did immediately,” she said. “I'm not doing this thing for trend. I'm not doing it for content.”
Despite complying, she alleged that threats continued and escalated.
“Because now, they are threatening me, they are threatening my family, everybody that is close to me, they are picking them up one by one, and asking them questions,” she claimed.
“Everybody that has been calling me, they've been contacting them. My family are in danger. They've even picked some people that are close to me. Police people have picked them up, arrested them.”
The mother also expressed dissatisfaction with the response from her child’s school, saying staff failed to adequately address her concerns about the book’s content.
She argued that the material could negatively influence young children.
According to her, she was later invited by authorities but feared the invitation could lead to her arrest, citing her lack of financial resources to secure legal representation.
