By Kalu Joseph
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB is moving bombs and explosives to Imo state, the Department of State Services has said. The secret police said this in a letter dated April 26, 2021 and sent to the brigade commander of 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Owerri, the state’s capital.
According to the letter, the DSS said the act could further worsens the fragile peace in the state, adding that the weapons are being moved in from Lagos.
The Punch reported that the letter titled, ‘Movement of explosive devices into the state by IPOB/ESN’ was signed by one I. Abdullah on behalf of the state director of the DSS.
Residents of the state have been under fear lately, particularly following the killing of IPOB militia commander Ikonso by a combine team of soldiers and policemen, during a raid on the hideout of militias of Easter Security Network, ESN. The Nnamdi Kanu-led IPOB has promised ‘madness’ after the top commander was killed.
The situation could get even more explosive as massive weapons and ammunition are being transported by IPOB through articulated vehicles via an undisclosed location in Orlu LGA, the DSS said.
According to DSS “Intelligence revealed that the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network has acquired bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices with which to further their subversive activities,” the letter said.
“It was reliably gathered that the newly acquired items are currently being conveyed from Lagos to an unconfirmed location in Orlu Local Government Area.
“The items are being concealed in articulated/heavy-duty vehicles to beat security checks along the road. It was further revealed that the group intends to deploy the explosives in their planned attacks on security/government installations across the state.”
IPOB had on Wednesday said the Imo State Government House has been renamed after the slain commander Ikonso.
In the statement titled, ‘Imo Government House, Douglas Road Owerri Named After Ikonso The Brave ESN Commander Murdered By Nigeria Security Agents – IPOB,’ the group said all governmental institutions have been notified of the change.
The group said “We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Biafrans worldwide ably led by our great and indomitable leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to announce to the world, our unanimous decision to rename the Imo State Government House, Douglas Road Owerri, and Awomamma Junction after the late heroic Commander of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), Ikonso, murdered in cold blood by cowardly Nigeria security operatives.
“The affected places will henceforth be called Ikonso Government House, Ikonso Way and Ikonso Junction respectively. This is with immediate effect and compliance is required of all ministries and parastatals beginning from today, the 28th day of April 2021.
“This decision is one of the ways IPOB members and Biafrans all over the world have agreed to immortalise the name of our brave Ikonso and his men killed by callous cowardly Nigeria security agents that flee from terrorists and bandits but derive pleasure in killing unarmed Biafra agitators.
“Ikonso and other fallen heroes with him did nothing to warrant their summary extrajudicial execution. They made the supreme sacrifice in defence of our ancestral land against Fulani terrorists, jihadists and killer herdsmen. Biafra shall never forget them.
“We, therefore, expect maximum cooperation from relevant government agencies, officials and the Imo State House of Assembly because we don’t know who this Douglas is (such) that a road in Owerri was named (after him) but we know who Ikonso was. He defended Imo State with his life, for without him, most Imo indigenes would be in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps by now courtesy of Fulani terrorists,” the statement said.
