By Ademola Adekusibe
September 16, 2025
The Nigerian Army has brought an end to the reign of one of IPOB’s most notorious commanders, Ifeanyi Eze Okorienta, better known by his alias, Gentle de Yahoo, a name that once struck fear across communities in Imo State but now rings hollow after his dramatic capture.
Okorienta was tracked down by troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade in a joint operation with sister security agencies at his hideout in Aku-Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State. The Army said his arrest was not only a symbolic victory but also a crippling blow to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
During the operation, troops recovered a cache of weapons and items including an English pistol, 120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 25 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, a cartridge, six mobile phones, military and police uniforms, and a German flag. A workshop used for dismantling stolen vehicles for resale was uncovered, while 10 motorcycles used for hit-and-run attacks were destroyed on site.
The Army’s momentum extended beyond Imo. Coordinated operations across Adamawa, Katsina, and Kogi States led to the rescue of 11 kidnapped victims. Five persons were freed in Madagali, Adamawa; another five in Malumfashi, Katsina; and two in Lokoja, Kogi. In Katsina, two terrorists were neutralised with an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, and a motorcycle recovered. In Benue, soldiers killed a violent extremist and seized charms and a mobile phone, while in Plateau, 40 rustled cattle were retrieved and returned to their rightful owners.
Eleven suspects linked to armed robbery, gunrunning, and violent extremism were also arrested in operations across Benue, Kogi, and Kaduna States.
The Nigerian Army credited these successes to sustained collaboration with sister services and security agencies, stressing that such coordination is proving decisive in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and separatist violence.
For many, the capture of Gentle de Yahoo stands as a powerful reminder that even the loudest boastful men eventually fall silent when the law catches up.
