• IPOB commander killed as troops raid ESN hqts

A team of 12 men armed with AK 47 and grenades on Saturday killed about eight people, including three security personnel, and set ablaze the country home of Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State at Omuma, Oru East Local Government Area of the state.

Several vehicles parked on the premises were also burnt in the latest orgy of violence in the state.

Many people were wounded and subsequently hospitalised.

The state government, which claimed the attack was politically motivated, said “vigilant security operatives attached to the governor’s house successfully repelled the attack and consequently minimised damage.”

The Nation reports that moments before the attack, a special security squad had swooped on the alleged operational headquarters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) in nearby Awoomama, killing a man called Ikonso said to be the coordinator of the recent deadly attacks on the headquarters of the State Police Command and the Nigerian Correctional Service facility both in Owerri.

Leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, vowed Saturday night to avenge the death of his aide.

Residents of Omuma said the attack on Uzodinma’s house was launched at about 9am soon after information spread about the overnight attack on Ikonso and his gang.

Some youths allegedly angered by the security raid on Awoomama were said to have marched to Mgidi in Oru West and later to Omuma where the governor’s private residence is located.

The youths were soon joined at the building by the gunmen who came through the Oguta axis of the state.

On their arrival in the town, the gunmen first shot two yet to be identified security men at Oguta Junction dead.

A source said that the hooded gunmen forced their way into Uzodinma’s compound after breaking down the iron gates with the aid of grenade and proceeded to set it and vehicles parked therein ablaze.

Six security men on guard duty at the governor’s residence were said to have been killed by the gunmen, but the police confirmed three dead.

The sound of their gunshots sent some residents scampering for their lives.

Many fled to neighbouring communities including Atta in Njaba and Amiri and Akatta communities in Oru East.

Hundreds of villagers from Ozuh and Etiti villages, Omuma community in Oru East LGA, were also seen fleeing.

A video recording purportedly of the attack surfaced last night, showing hooded men during the raid. Some of the attackers were dressed in black.

One was seen rushing inside with used tyre ostensibly to start the fire.

The authenticity of the video could not be immediately ascertained.

It’s handiwork of political opponents, says government

The State government said through Information and Strategy Commissioner Declan Emelumba that gallant security operatives repelled the attack on the governor’s country home.

But he said the attack was politically motivated.

He said, “At about 9am today, Saturday, April 24, a group of hoodlums numbering about 15, driving in a motorcade of three vehicles accompanied by a tipper loaded with used tyres, stormed the country home of the governor in Omuma, Oru East  LGA and attempted to burn down the house.

“However, vigilant security operatives attached to the governor’s house successfully repelled the attack and consequently minimised the damage they had planned to unleash.

“In the crossfire that ensued, a few casualties were recorded. Preliminary investigation suggests that the foiled attack may have been politically sponsored.

“The government has directed the relevant security agencies to expedite investigation on the incident and promptly apprehend the sponsors and their agents and bring them to justice.

Also reacting, the state’s police command PPRO, Orlando Ikeokwu, said in a statement that the hoodlums threw a petrol bomb at the governor’s house.

He said, “Yes, I can confirm the story. The hoodlums attacked the governor’s house by throwing in petrol bomb as a result of which two cars were burnt. But they were successfully repelled and none of the buildings was set ablaze.

“One unarmed personnel of the NSCDC was killed in the process. The hoodlums, while escaping, also killed a Police Sergeant and another NSCDC personnel who were both in their private vehicles at Mgbidi Junction.”

The Army spokesman, 34 Artillery Brigand Obinze, Imo State, Lt. Babatunde Zubairu told The Nation that soldiers never shot at any youth.

“I am not aware that youths were killed or a woman was shot by the soldiers, but I know that the governor’s house was attacked by unknown gunmen. The police personnel and our men at the compound repelled them,” he said.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that Army Command drafted soldiers from 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze to take over Oru East and West Council areas of the state to secure the areas against further attacks.

The IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary Emma Powerful declined to talk on the development.

He said, “We are not granting interview now, but Uzodimma wants to try us.”

The security team comprising soldiers, policemen and Department of State Services (DSS) personnel, also recovered from the alleged gangsters assorted guns, ammunition and charms.

The Nation gathered that the security team had trailed Ikonso and his men to the building following painstaking investigation of the Owerri attacks.

A gun battle ensued between the two sides as soon as the suspects sighted the team, which lasted till early yesterday with the bandits losing out.

By the time the exchange of gunfire subsided, Ikonso and six of his men lay dead.

Ikonso is said to be a native of Awo-Omamma, about 20 minutes drive from Owerri.

Sources said he coordinated all foreign donations to IPOB and usually disbursed same to IPOB sub units.

It was gathered that he had been promised the position of vice president in the ‘Republic of Biafra’ hence his dedication to the IPOB cause.

Confirming the operation via a statement, the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, said the operation was launched 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.”

He said four security operatives, including an Army officer and three policemen were killed in the operation.

Yerima said: “The IRT (Intelligence Response Team) 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 Centre 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 statement added, “So far, 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.”