On Saturday, the police say they have killed the commander of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and six others accused of masterminding the attack on a prison and police headquarters in Owerri.

Gunmen attacked the facilities on April 5, freeing about 2,000 inmates.

IPOB, in a statement, had denied having a hand in the simultaneous attack.

The police linked the suspected IPOB members to several other attacks on security and military personnel and facilities. 

A statement by the head of the special terror unit, Abba Kyari, disclosed that the attack was a joint operation by the police, army, and the SSS, in the early hours of Saturday, “storming” the operational headquarters of IPOB in Awomama, Oru East local government area. 

“They have also carried out series of calculated, violent attacks on security personnel and formations in the South-East and South-South of the country. 

“As the security forces approached the insurgents’ base, they came under rapid fire from the group. In a bold and clinical response, the joint security forces fought back gallantly. The forces eventually neutralised the overall commander of the insurgents in the South-East, popularly known as Ikonso Commander and six other armed fighters of the insurgent group,” said the police. 

Commander Ikonso was considered the vice president-designate and the coordinator of all the militia operations of IPOB. 

“He was the mastermind and coordinator of the attack on the Imo police headquarters and several other attacks on security and military personnel and facilities,” added Mr Kyari in the statement. 

The police added that the operation was part of deliberate efforts by the country’s security forces to quell IPOB’s attacks in the South-East and South-South.