Nigeria’s security forces in the early hours of Saturday killed an alleged top commander of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), other militias and arrested several others in a well-coordinated operation.
Those involved in the operation were from the Police, Army, and the Department of State Services.
The operation also coincided with an attack on the country home of governor Hope Uzodinma, during which the attackers set ablaze vehicles parked on the compound and also killed three security operatives in the process.
The commander, who was identified as Ikonso, was said to be the coordinator of the attacks on Imo State Police Command Headquarters as well as the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) facility in Owerri during which more than 1,800 inmates escaped.
Operatives comprising the police, Department of State Services (DSS), and soldiers stormed Ikonso’s Umuokwe country home late on Friday and engaged suspected IPOB members till early Saturday when they took over the premises.
The attack, a major breakthrough followed weeks of investigation and trailing of the Ikonso, who hailed from Awo-Omamma, a community located about 20 minutes from Owerri.
He was alleged to be the anchorman for all foreign donations to IPOB and the one who usually disbursed the same to other subunits.
Ikonso was known as the Vice President-designate of the planned Republic of Biafra, as well as the coordinator of all the militia operations of the group.
He also masterminded and coordinated the other attack on security and military personnel and facilities in the state.
Sources said that as the security forces approached the base of the insurgents, they came under rapid fire from the group, but were able to fight back gallantly. They subsequently took out the commander and six of his fighters, while others were captured alive.
