Ndudi Anyim
A combined team of security forces led by troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised the Second-in-Command of IPOB/ESN, known as Ikonson Commander, alongside six other top commanders of the group.
Security Watch Africa gathered that Ikonson and his group were responsible for the attack on the Imo State Police Command, the Correctional facility, and other sundry attacks in the State and parts of South-East and South-South.
According to a statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, operatives had raided the Operational Headquarters of IPOB/ESN terrorists in Awomama Village, Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State.
Yerima also disclosed that a Second Lieutenant and three operatives of the Intelligence (IRT), also lost their lives in the operation.
He said: “The early morning raid by troops of Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) was launched on Saturday, April 24, following a detailed intelligence report on the location of the terrorists’ Operational Headquarters and the movement of the overall Commander popularly known as Ikonson Commander.
“The IRT and DSS teams along with troops of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army have been on the trail of the terror group since the unfortunate attacks on the Imo State Police Command and the Owerri Correctional Center on 5 April, 2021.
“The said Ikonson Commander who was the mastermind of those attacks in addition to multiple attacks in the South East and South South regions, was neutralised along with six of his top Commanders.
“The joint intelligence team had earlier interviewed several arrested IPOB/ESN terrorists in connection with the April 5 attacks and they all confessed that Ikonson Commander who was named as Vice President by their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was the one that mobilized men and resources as well as ordered and orchestrated the attacks on Owerri.
“They equally revealed that Ikonson was responsible for many other attacks on Police stations across the two geo-political zones. The intelligence team later tracked the IPOB/ESN top leader to his exact location in Awomama village where he (Ikonson) and his top Commanders were hibernating and plotting dastardly acts against the Nigerian state.
“On noticing the presence of the joint operations team, IPOB/ESN terrorists brought heavy volume of fire on the raiding team who swiftly responded and overwhelmed them with superior fire power that neutralised Ikonson and six of his top Commanders. Sadly however, a Second Lieutenant and three IRT operatives paid the supreme price in the fire fight that ensued.”
The Army spokesperson said the four officers who fought gallantly have already been evacuated to a military facility in Owerri.
He added that three AK 47 riffles, a Toyota Sienna van belonging to the terrorists and several other items of value including drugs suspected to be psychotropic substances were recovered and are being processed by the intelligence team to assist in further investigations and operations in the area.
“The joint security team is already dominating the general area while preparations for further operations are in top gear. The neutralised Ikonson Commander had in several occasions posed for photographs with the fugitive leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru has commended the troops, the Police IRT and DSS operatives for their determination in ensuring that the operation was a success. He prayed for the repose of the souls of the gallant officers who lost their lives in the operation, stressing that their sacrifice will never be in vain.
“The Nigerian Army along with other security agencies will sustain intelligence-based kinetic operations in the South East and South South until the regions are free of terrorist activities, Yerima stated.