Security forces on Saturday morning killed an alleged Southeast Commander of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), six-armed militias, and arrested several others during a deadly encounter in Imo State.
The alleged commander identified as Ikonso, The Nation gathered, was coordinator of the daredevil attacks on Imo State Police Command as well as the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) facility in Owerri that led to the escape of over 1,800 inmates.
Operatives comprising the police, Department of State Services (DSS), and soldiers of the Nigerian Army were said to have stormed Ikonso’s Umuokwe country home late on Friday and engaged suspected IPOB members till early Saturday when they took over the premises.
Sources said the breakthrough came after weeks of investigation and trailing of the alleged Commander said to be a native of Awo-Omamma, a community located about 20 minutes from Owerri.
The deceased commander, it was learned, was the anchorman for all foreign donations to IPOB and the one who usually disbursed the same to other subunits.
It was gathered the man was propelled to carry out the attacks following promises of a vice-presidential slot should their demands for the Biafra Republic be achieved.
Sources privy to the operation said that Special Forces stormed the suspect’s mansion in the community but were attacked by armed militias on guard duty.
He said three policemen and a soldier were seriously wounded during the operation which lasted several hours.
“But the courageous policemen stood their grounds and exchanged fire for fire. The armed militias were many and wore their “bulletproof” that makes security operatives think they are impenetrable.
“Despite that, our men took down seven of them including the commander who happens to be the owner of the house. He owns a big compound there and uses part as his residence while the other part is for IPOB operations.
