The Nigerian Army says it has killed Prince Idibia, also known as Don Wanni, who is believed to be behind the New Year’s Day attack in Omoku, Rivers State, where at least 23 were killed.

Aminu Ilyasu, spokesman of the 6 Division Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, made this known in a statement on Sunday, narrating how Don Wanni had relocated to Enugu after the attack.

Ilyasu recalled that security operatives had raided Don Wanni’s Port Harcourt residence in November, but he managed to escape, leaving behind several arms, ammunition and charms, which were recovered by the authorities.

Following intelligence information, a combined team of soldiers and operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) traced the suspect to the neighbourhood in Enugu where he had settled among unsuspecting citizens.

According to the statement, Don Wanni was already planning another attack in Omoku, from his new base in Enugu, before luck ran out on him.

“Don Wanni masterminded the despicable New Year Day’s mayhem in Omoku in which he led his notorious gang of criminals to murder 23 peace-loving citizens of Omoku when they were returning from Cross Over Service at about 1:30am on Monday 1st January 2018,” the army statement read in part.

“Intense surveillance activities on him and his gang by the Department of State Services (DSS) Rivers State Command revealed that after committing these atrocities he relocated to a neighbourhood within Enugu Town in Enugu State where he rented an apartment and started living among unsuspecting neighbours within the community.

“From the relative safety of his newly-rented apartment, Don Wanni was already perfecting plans to wrought another mayhem in Omoku, in which he was to attack churches, schools, Army and Police locations and the residences of the generality of the already traumatized people of Omoku.

“However, following his successful geo-location to his new Enugu neighbourhood hideout by the DSS Rivers State Command, a combined team of troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army Enugu and personnel of DSS Rivers State Command raided the hideout to arrest him and his other accomplices.

“Incidentally, on sensing that the combined team was closing in on his residence, Don Wanni, his second-in-Command (Ikechukwu Adiele) and another gang member (Lucky Ode) attempted to escape through the back exit of the apartment and were shot down by the eagle-eyed troops in the process.

“One of them died on the spot while the other 2 who sustained gunshot wounds eventually died while being evacuated for medical attention.”

The statement added that their bodies were brought back to Port Harcourt and handed over to the Rivers State Police Command for further action.

When the police raided Don Wanni’s home in November, items found there included 10 human skulls and decomposing bodies.

In June 2016, Don Wanni, and his cult group laid down their arms and accepted the amnesty declared by Nyesom Wike, the Rivers State Governor, but they later reneged and went back to crime.

Also in November, there were rumours that Don Wanni was killed in a shootout between his gang and members of the local vigilante group known as OSPAC, but it turned out to be a mere farce.