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High Chief Matthew Opoto, Chairman of the Abissa Council of Chiefs in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, has been abducted.
The traditional ruler was abducted on a boat while on his way to his community in Abissa.
Gunmen on a speed boat had reportedly intercepted the boat conveying the monarch and some of his chiefs.
Community sources said the traditional ruler was dragged into one of the boats used by the suspected criminals after he was identified.
A community source confirmed the incident to newsmen in Port Harcourt, saying the monarch was few minutes to his destination when the gunmen struck.
“The chairman of Abissa council of chiefs High Chief Mathew Opito, (3rd) was travelling with some of his chiefs and about five minutes to arrive the community, gunmen came in a speed boat, identified him and took him away.
“We have no information about him. The entire community is worried, the chiefs, elders, youths and women, everybody is worried because there is no information about him up till now,” he said.
He called on the security agencies, including the Nigeria Navy Ship, Pathfinder (NNS Pathfinder) and the Rivers State Government to intervene and facilitate his release.
The spokesperson of the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident.
She said a manhunt had been launched for the attackers.
