Joint Task Force (JTF) arrested Sobomabo Jackrich, aka Egberipapa, is not really a big name among Niger Delta militancy, lords of militancy in the region have declared.
Sobomabo indeed is as loud as other militant leaders such as Ateke Tom and Soboma George in Rivers state.
But he reportedly gained serious attention when what could better pass as an inter cult rivalry in Abonnema last year that later spread to Harris Town in Degema and the NPA Dock yard part of Port Harcourt caused many to flee these areas.
According to information from security and community sources then, the rivalry was between Egberipapa, his followers and Soboma George/ his Out Laws group.
Lives were consumed in that clash that lasted about a week in the state. Even the JTF Spokesman Sagir confessed to news men that they lost one soldier in Abonnema and another sustained gun shot injuries. But he declined to comment on the casualty figure on the part of the militants then.
There were initial fears that struggle for territorial control was at the root of the clash but information that later flowed in from the camps of the war mongers revealed that what Egberipapa reportedly got as ransom from the abduction of six expatriates was the cause. Egberipapa had taken six expatriates hostage around the Sobriero River.
The source said he was paid huge amount of money to release them. And when Soboma allegedly got to know of this he asked for his own share. And this resulted in the clash that started from Abonnema and extended to Degema and the NPA Dockyard, part of the state capital. It took the intervention of security operatives in the state to quell the ugly development.
Today, however, Egberipapa, is currently cooling off as a ‘guest’ of the Joint Task Force in Rivers State.
He was arrested on Sunday at about 830pm in Buguma at the palace of the Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom , His Majesty Prof Theophilus Jacob Princewill. And taken straight to the headquarters of the security body at the Port Harcourt army barracks otherwise known as Bori camp.
Egberipapa in some circles is believed to be behind the abduction of the wife of an oil magnate in the state, Chief Mrs. Seinye O.B. Lulu Briggs last year. It was a major operation by militants in the state capital.
The attack on the house of the Lulus in Port Harcourt that night lasted several hours. And there was no resistance from security operatives in the state. They shot their way through the bullet proof doors in the sprawling compound.
According to spokesman of the army and the JTF in the state, Lieutenant Col Sagir Musa, the militant leader at press time was still being investigated and was even cooperating with soldiers on ground, adding that he would be handed over later to the relevant authorities within security circles for further investigation.
How Soboma was arrested Asari Dokubo, in a telephone interview with the Saturday Vanguard, said Egberipapa accompanied him to the palace of the Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom where he was picked by the JTF.
He blamed governor Rotimi Amaechi for the arrest. He said he was also arrested that night to the headquarters of the JTF in Port Harcourt but was later released after frantic and intense phone calls between the JTF authorities in Rivers state and its headquarters in Abuja .
But there was pandemonium in Buguma Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, that Sunday as over 50 armed soldiers stormed the palace in four armoured vehicles to arrest suspected militant leader, Soboma Japkri.
It was gathered that Soboma was arrested from the Palace of the Amayanabo of Kalabari Kingdom, Prof. TJT Princewill at about 8:25p.m. on Sunday night.
But the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Musa Sagir, described the report as untrue.
Although he confirmed that there were more than 700 soldiers, he said they had been there for long.
Eye witnesses said Egberipapa was with prominent Ijaw youth leaders, including Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari, when the troops stormed the town in a commando-like operation.
Dokubo-Asari was said to have escaped arrest through the intervention of a top army officer.
The officer was said to have warned that Dokubo-Asari’s arrest might exacerbate the Niger Delta crisis.
Although there was no report of gun shots, it was gathered that Soboma, who had been on the wanted list of security operatives, was whisked away at about 8:30 p.m. much to the chagrin of the Amayanabo and prominent chiefs, who felt aggrieved that he was arrested in the palace.
Dokubo-Asari, who confirmed the report, said Soboma was with him in the Kalabari town, preparatory to the traditional oath taking to be administered by prominent chiefs in the kingdom.
A source said the ceremony, slated for the palace of the Amayanabo, was part of the peace process being conducted by Chief Albert Horsefall. It was gathered that the militants who would have taken the oath were expected to renounce violence and embrace peace.
Indications that soldiers could storm the palace emerged earlier in the evening when a son of the monarch, Prince Tonye Princewill, called to hint his father of plans to arrest Soboma in his palace.
The source said the telephone conversation between father and son lasted for about 30 minutes.
Princewill also spoke with Dokubo-Asari, who also emphasised the need for the peace process to go as planned.
Dokubo-Asari condemns arrest
Dokubo-Asari condemned the incident, describing it as a nail on the coffin of the peace process. He said the JTF should not take credit for Soboma’s arrest.
Dokubo-Asari said, “They are having a peace process, which is sponsored by the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi and somebody has voluntary come out of his own volition.
“What they should have done was to allow the process to be completed and after that there would be handing over of arms and demobilisation. Now, the peace process has been jeopardized. ” Lagos lawyer Festus Keyamo had been contacted to take up Soboma’s case in court, it was learnt last night. Keyamo confirmed yesterday that he had been briefed.
But it should be recalled that Soboma’s kidnapping of the expatriate attracted condemnation from the Ijaw nation.
The hostage was later released after about eight hours in the custody of the militants. It was not clear if any ransom was paid before the release.
But it was a strong opinion in some circle then that money exchanged hands because security operatives were reportedly shut out from the whole process that culminated in the release.
He was also reportedly behind the abduction of four expatriates working for an oil servicing firm. It would be recalled that some men dressed in mobile police uniforms had stormed a camp of the firm to whisk away four of their expatriates who were later released after some weeks in the custody of their kidnappers.
Egberipapa is a known boy of Asari Dokubo. After the latter relocated to Abuja, he reportedly set up a militant camp on the creeks around Buguma area but later shut it down and then moved deeper into the waters near Calabar River , some where close to River Sombriero.
At a point he made his camp a mobile one, i.e. not located at any particular spot. May be his alleged involvement in bunkering operations was responsible.
Those who knew him very closely told Saturday Vanguard that he had only secondary education. They also said he was not really a rascal, violent and reckless person. This apparently was why he was very much willing to submit himself to the peace process allegedly initiated in Kalabari land.
Soboma is only an Asari boy, say militants
Some top militants on phone said Egberipapa is not really a big name in their circle. “He is just an Asari boy that is what makes people think he is thick”, one of them said.
Fears over Soboma’s Arrest
Mixed reactions have continued to trail his arrest. In some circle, it is believed the reported peace meeting was a set up for arrest of militant leaders in Kalabari area. Proponents of this fear that the arrest has further weakened the drive by Governor Rotimi Amaechi to achieve lasting peace in the state.
IYC condemn arrest
Because the move would henceforth be viewed with suspect. Ijaw Youth Council is not happy at the deceptive nature of peace moves by the Rivers State government. Egberipapa thought the Amaechi government actually wanted peace that can be sustained, that was why he accepted pleas from the likes of Chief A.K Horsefall of the Social and Rehabilitation Committee.
The vice chairman, IYC Eastern zone, Prince Sammy George is not happy with the insincerity shown by Amaechi’s government and warns that there could be a backlash if Soboma Jackreece, aka Egberipapa is not released soon. Of course, Ateke Tom and Soboma George will now be very hard to talk to on peace.”
Asari-Dokubo Reacts
“Governor Rotimi Amaechi whom I don’t recognize as governor initiated a peace process in Kalabari land with Albert Horse fall as chairman. As a chief in Kalabari I want peace so I attended one of the meetings and told them my position on the issue. Well, on Sunday, Egberipapa saw my car passed at Abalama.
He later caught up with me at the check point at Ido. He joined me to Buguma. And we went straight to the palace of the Amanyanabo of Kalabari. Later I left them there. I was in town (Buguma) when Egberipapa called that the JTF was mobilizing to arrest him. I tried to stop the arrest but was told by one of the security men who said they were waiting for one of their commanders from Port Harcourt that it was Governor Amaechi that gave orders for him to be arrested. He even said I should be arrested too. First it was wrong to arrest a person in the palace. I was also arrested.”
Why were you later released?
I was kept there for hours. The military authority gave orders that I should be released. There were frantic phone calls that night between the JTF in Port Harcourt and the army authorities in Abuja.