Early Monday morning, gunmen dressed in military uniform stormed the residence of Sobomabo Jackrich, the Rivers State governorship candidate of the National Rescue Movement in the 2023 general election.
News About Nigeria reports that the incident occurred in Usokun, Degema Local Government Area of the state.
According to reports, the assailants raided Jackrich’s residence around 3 am.
In the course of the attack, two of his loyalists were shot dead by the gunmen, and their bodies were taken away along with Jackrich.
Jackrich, widely known as ‘Egberipapa’, is a former militant leader who had embraced the amnesty program during the tenure of late President Umar Yar’Adua.
Confirming the incident, Jackrich’s media aide, Soibibo Sokari, expressed shock at the abduction and killing of the two loyalists.
Sokari said, “Yes, it is true he was abducted this morning. Two persons were killed, and their bodies were carted away along with him. We are still following up on the incident to get more details.”
While the motive behind the attack remains unclear, a source, speaking anonymously, claimed that the military was responsible for Jackrich’s abduction.
The source alleged, “His residence was cordoned off.”
Efforts to reach the acting Deputy Director of the Army Public Relations Division, Lt Col. Jonah Danjuma, for comment proved unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
However, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, provided a conflicting account, stating that Jackrich’s situation was not a case of kidnapping.
Iringe-Koko clarified, “It is not a kidnapping. He is with some security personnel. That is all I can say for now.”
