Troops nab IPOB warlord ‘Gentle de Yahoo’, crush terror cells in nationwide raids

The Nigerian Army has captured a notorious commander of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), Ifeanyi Eze Okorienta, popularly known as Gentle de Yahoo.

Okorienta was seized in Aku-Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, by troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade in a joint operation with sister security agencies.

Troops recovered 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 for dismantling stolen vehicles was also uncovered, while 10 motorcycles were destroyed at the hideout.

The military said its operations spread beyond Imo. In Adamawa, Katsina, and Kogi, 11 kidnap victims were freed. Five were rescued in Madagali, Adamawa; another five in Malumfashi, Katsina; and two in Lokoja, Kogi.

In Katsina, two terrorists were gunned down, with an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, and a motorcycle recovered. Troops in Benue killed a violent extremist and seized charms and a mobile phone. Eleven suspects linked to armed robbery, gunrunning, and violent extremism were also arrested across Benue, Kogi, and Kaduna.

In Plateau, 40 rustled cattle were recovered and returned to their owners.

The Army said the successes were made possible by sustained collaboration with sister services and other security agencies.