Leaders of the National Rescue Movement, NRM, in Rivers State, and the family of the abducted ex-militant leader, High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich, aka Egberipapa, have called for his unconditional release.
Newspot recalls that gunmen in military uniform reportedly invaded the ex-militant’s home in the Usokun community of Degema Local Government Area on Monday.
He was taken away with one other person, while two of his aides – Diamond Tamunoiminabo and Sincere Jackrich- were killed and their bodies taken away.
Spokesperson of the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the former governorship candidate was not kidnapped but is being held by a sister security agency.
However, spokesman of the 6 Division Nigerian Army, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, Lt.-Col. Danjuma A. Danjuma said, “I am not aware of Jackrich’s arrest.”
Chief Selieye Jackrich and Ezekiel Benibo, who spoke for the chiefs and elders of Da-Ike Group of Houses Buguma, Akuku-Toru council, which Egberipapa heads, as well as Chairman of NRM, Ibiyekaribo Peters, insisted that the arrest could be likened to abduction.
They called on the military, Department of State Services, DSS, the police and other statutory security agencies, or any other group, holding Egberipapa and his aide to set them free unconditionally and unhurt.
They also worried about what would become of the people if anything untoward happened to him.
The elders called on President Bola Tinubu, Governor Siminialayi Fubara and well-meaning Nigerians to come to the family’s aid to facilitate Egberipapa’s safe release.
They also called on Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, to order an investigation of 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.”
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