Gunmen kill two loyalists and kidnap Rivers’ former governor candidate

Sobomabo Jackrich

In the early hours of Monday morning, Sobomabo Jackrich, the National Rescue Movement’s candidate for governor of Rivers State in the general elections of 2023, was abducted by armed men wearing military uniforms.

It has been stated that Jackrich was kidnapped from his home in Usokun, within the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

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It was also said that two of his supporters were shot and killed by the attackers when they broke into his home on Monday morning at around three in the morning.

Even though it was unclear what exactly led up to the raid, Jackrich was taken away and the bodies of the two people who were killed were brought off.

Although the cause of the two loyalists’ deaths was unknown, a community source reported that numerous military-badged cars were seen during the operation.

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Jackrich, often referred to as “Egberipapa,” was a former militant leader who accepted the amnesty granted by the late President Umar Yar’Adua.

His media assistant, Soibibo Sokari, verified the event when reached.

Sokari stated, “Yes, it is true he was arrested 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.

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“We don’t know exactly who is behind it. But as the details unfold we will let the public know about it.”

The former militant leader was taken away by the military, according to a source who begged to be anonymous and informed PUNCH ONLINE correspondent, “His residence was condoned.”

However, in a brief response upon being reached, Lt Col. Jonah Danjuma, the acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6th Division, stated, “I’m not aware.”

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But Grace Iringe-Koko, a spokesman for the Rivers State Police Command, told our reporter that the conflict was not with a kidnapping but rather with the former Niger Delta agitator and a sister security agency.

She stated, “It is not a kidnapping. He is with some security personnel. That is all I can say for now.”

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