Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has spoken out in support of a woman who alleges she has been receiving threats after raising concerns about the content of a children’s storybook, describing the situation as troubling and unacceptable.
In a post shared on Facebook on Sunday, April 26, the senator said she was alerted to the case of “a distressed woman reportedly being threatened” following her objections to a book she claimed contained graphic depictions of cruelty.
“My attention has been drawn to a distressed woman reportedly being threatened over concerns she raised about a children’s storybook containing graphic cruelty,” she wrote.
Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasised that educational content meant for children must be carefully designed to avoid harmful messaging, warning against exposure to material that could desensitise young readers to violence.
“Content intended for children must never be distressing, confusing, or inadvertently normalise violence, especially toward animals. Safeguarding young minds is a shared responsibility,” she stated.
She also maintained that parents should be allowed to question and review what their children are exposed to, while urging publishers and relevant authorities to remain receptive to feedback.
“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 said.
The senator further condemned reports of intimidation linked to the matter, calling for urgent attention to the issue.
“Threats or intimidation over such concerns are unacceptable. I would appreciate being connected to her immediately so this matter can be properly addressed,” Natasha added.
The development comes after a video went viral featuring a mother who claimed she was forced into hiding after publicly questioning a passage in her child’s book.
In the video, she described a story in the book that allegedly portrayed an elderly man punishing a dog by burning its nose with a hot iron for failing to guard meat, which she argued was unsuitable for children.
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“As a first-time mum, my children are my priority… I read this and came online to ask if this is the kind of book they are reading now. It doesn’t sit well with me,” she said.
She also stated that she complied with requests to delete her post but claimed the threats continued regardless.
“They told me to bring it down, and I did immediately… I’m not doing this for trend,” she said.
According to her, the situation escalated further, affecting her sense of safety.
“Because now, they are threatening me… my family are in danger. Police people have picked some people that are close to me,” she alleged.
She added that she was invited by authorities but feared the invitation could lead to her arrest.
“They sent me an invitation… I know that that invitation is arrest. I don’t have money for lawyers,” she said.
The mother also criticised her child’s school over the content, insisting it was inappropriate for young learners.
“This is for my five-year-old child… it is too much. Most children are mischievous, and you are giving them the go-ahead to do what they are doing,” she added.
She appealed for public support, especially from legal practitioners and concerned parents.
“Nigeria, please help me. I’m crying for help… Lawyers… you guys should please help me,” she said.
The matter has since generated widespread discussion online, with debates focusing on children’s content standards, parental oversight, and the boundaries of public criticism.