The leaders of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) in Rivers State, along with the family of the abducted ex-militant leader, High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich (also known as Egberipapa), are demanding his immediate release.
Gunmen wearing military uniforms reportedly raided Jackrich’s home in the Usokun community of Degema Local Government Area on Monday.
He was taken along with another person, while two of his aides, Diamond Tamunoiminabo and Sincere Jackrich, were killed and their bodies were taken.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, stated that the former governorship candidate was not kidnapped but is being held by another security agency.
However, the spokesperson for the 6th Division Nigerian Army, Bori Camp in Port Harcourt, Lt.-Col. Danjuma A. Danjuma, claimed, “I am not aware of Jackrich’s arrest.”
Chief Selieye Jackrich and Ezekiel Benibo, representing the chiefs and elders of Da-Ike Group of Houses in Buguma, Akuku-Toru council, expressed their concern over the arrest of Egberipapa.
They compared the arrest to an abduction and urged the military, Department of State Services (DSS), police, and other security agencies to release Egberipapa and his aide unconditionally and unharmed.
The elders feared for the safety of the people if anything happened to Egberipapa and called on President Bola Tinubu, Governor Siminialayi Fubara, and other Nigerians to help secure his safe release.
Additionally, they requested Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu to investigate the invasion and arrest.
The party’s statement reads: “As a party, we are yet to know the perpetrators of this attack only to hear from the police that a sister security organisation arrested our leader and killed his aides.
“We call on the police to make further clarifications as to who the sister agencies are. Was there a lawful warrant of arrest issued against Egberipapa, or was he declared wanted by the government or?
“If that is the case, we also want to know what the allegations leveled against him are and those behind this sinister move.”
