The Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB has demanded rechristening of the Government House and others for immortalization of its fallen Eastern Security Network ESN commander, Ikonso.
Ikonso and 6 members of his team were killed by a combined team of security operatives , the Army,DSS and the Police on Saturday, April 24.same day gunnen attacked Omuma, the country home of Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma.
IPOB in a statement issued by its spokesman, Emma Powerful on Wednesday morning, demanded that the Imo State Government House, Douglas Road and Awomamma junction should be named after the deceased commander of the ESN.
The statement directed all governmental institutions in the state to immediately comply with the demand adding that it was one of the decisions reached by IPOB members and Biafrans to immortalise their fallen heroes for their bravery in defending their ancestral land against the terror of Fulani herdsmen.
The statement reads with the title” Imo Government House, Douglas Road,Owerri Named After Ikonso, The Brave ESN Commander Murdered By Nigeria Security Agents,
” 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” it said.
The position of the state government on the directive is not known at the time of press but analysts say IPOB’S request would further complicate the security situation in the state and called for the group’s understanding with the Uzodinma government.
