The killing of Ikonso, a commander of Eastern Security Network (ESN) is eliciting reactions across Nigeria.
While the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) has described his death as painful, the secessionist group said he was killed after refusing mouth watering offers form state actors to compromise.
The secessionist group said Ikonso was ambushed contrary to the narrative that security agencies raided the hideout of the armed militia.
On social media, his death has triggered mixed reactions, with many describing it as a mistake, an opinion Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Aviation Minister agrees with.
Mr Fani-Kayode while reacting on Sunday in a tweet cited a similar situation that radicalized Boko Haram terrorists who took up arms against the state when its founder, Mohammed Yusuf, was killed.
The former minister who described as unfortunate the killing of the deceased warlord said it is the greatest mistake the Nigerian government has made after killing Mr Yusuf.
“The biggest mistake that the Nigerian state has made since the killing of Mohammed Yusuf, the erstwhile leader of Boko Haram, is the killing of Ikonso the IPOB & ESN Commander a few days ago,” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain said. “This single act has radicalised IPOB & will have consequences. It is sad & unfortunate.”
