The police in Rivers State have confirmed that a former Niger Delta militant leader, High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich, popularly known as Egberipapa, was arrested by security operatives as against reports of his abduction.
Spokesperson of the Rivers Police Command, SP.Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest of Egberipapa on Monday.
NIGER DELTA TODAY Online report that gunmen dressed in army uniform had in the early hours of Monday raided the country-home of the former militant and whisked away to an unknown destination.
It was gathered that two aides of the former militant leader was reportedly killed during the arrest by the operatives.
But confirming the arrest, SP Iringe-Koko, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, disclosed that Egberipapa was arrested by another security agency.
Iringe-Koko, “It is not kidnapping. He is with some security personnel. That is all I can say for now.”
Media aide to the ex-militant leader, Soibibo Sokari, confirmed the arrest of the Egberipapa, who was also the governorship candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) in the 2023 general elections.
Sokari also confirmed the killing of two of Egberipapa’s loyalists by security operatives during the raid of the ex-militant’s home.
According to him, “Yes it is true he was arrested this morning. Two persons were killed and their bodies carted away along with him. We are still following up the incident to get more details.
“We don’t know exactly who is behind it. But as the details unfold, we will let the public know about it.”
Egberipapa was one of the militant leaders in the oil-rich Niger Delta region that accepted the Presidential Amnesty Programme of President Musa Yar’Adua in 2009.