Uzodinma Orchestrated The Killing of ESN Commander, Ikonson, IPOB Alleges

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, of orchestrating the event that led to the killing of its second in Command, popularly known as Ikonson Commander. 

According to Channels Television, the IPOB’s claim could not be verified as of press time. 

The group also announced that it has appointed a replacement for its commander that was killed by security operatives, military in Imo. 

The group Media and Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Powerful made the disclosure during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics.’

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Powerful said, “They can say whatever they like, but we are intact. Another commander has taken over,” he said, adding, “I won’t tell you” when asked to name the successor of the secessionist group’s number two man who was popularly known as Ikonson Commander.

The secessionist group claimed that the late commander was killed because he refused to lead the Ebubeagu regional security outfit established by the South East Governors’ Forum. 

Powerful lamented that a number of IPOB and Eastern Security Network (ESN) members have been arrested across the states in the South East, saying that the proscription of the group as a terrorist organization was illegal. 

“Yesterday (Saturday), our commander went to his village. They ambushed him with some politicians … they ordered the military to kill him. The Imo State administrator knows very well that he has committed a crime and we must follow him up.

“He ordered for the killing of this guy (the late commander) because he refused his offer to come and head the Ebubeagu which the South-East governors established,” he alleged.

The spokesperson added that “He (the governor) sent some people to meet him (the late commander), but the guy refused that he cannot betray Biafra’s agitation and our leader – Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Since then, they have been threatening him.

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“In Imo State, they arrested more than 50 people … they have been going to people’s houses to arrest them; in Anambra, they arrested so many people; in Abia, they arrested so many people.”

On Saturday, the Nigerian Army confirmed the death of Ikonson, who is the overall commander of the ESN and Vice President of IPOB.

He was reportedly killed by a combined team of security forces in a raid on the operational headquarters of IPOB/ESN in Awomama Village in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State.

The operation was carried out by troops of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, the operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), and the Department of State Services (DSS).