Activist Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and prominent human rights advocate Aisha Yesufu triggered a wave of controversy on Tuesday, July 23, 2025, as they defied security protocols to storm the second gate of the National Assembly in Abuja during a protest over the disappearance of 21-year-old Precious Ogar.
Tension rose sharply when the senator, flanked by several female activists and civil society representatives, bypassed heavily armed security personnel at the second gate after being denied entry at the first checkpoint. The protest, which began around 10 a.m., disrupted movement around the National Assembly complex, drawing attention from lawmakers and journalists alike.
The protest was sparked by the mysterious disappearance of Precious Ogar, a young woman allegedly last seen in police custody after a routine stop in Abuja. Her family claims she was detained during a sweep targeting commercial sex workers, but has since vanished without formal documentation or legal processing—a development that activists have described as “state-enabled disappearance.”
Aisha Yesufu, known for her fierce advocacy during the #EndSARS protests, condemned the silence from both the police and federal authorities. “This is no longer a matter of police misconduct; it is a case of institutional failure. If a young woman can disappear without a trace and no one is held accountable, then no Nigerian is safe,” she declared during the protest.
Senator Natasha, representing Kogi Central, insisted that as a sitting lawmaker, she had a right to lead constituents and civil society to demand justice. “We were blocked, we insisted, and we walked in. The people’s voice must never be silenced by gates or guns,” she said, calling for an immediate parliamentary probe into the incident.
National Assembly security later allowed the group to proceed to the main gate under pressure from media coverage and growing online outrage. The police have yet to issue a formal statement regarding the incident or the status of the missing girl as of press time.
The protest has since gained momentum online, with hashtags like #JusticeForPrecious, #FreePreciousNow, and #NASSProtest trending across Nigerian social media platforms. Civil rights groups have vowed to return with larger crowds if answers are not provided within 72 hours.
