How military arrested ‘Gentle De Yahoo’ after 4-hours trek to hideout

A new feather has been added to the troops of the Nigerian Army as they have painstakingly achieved a new milestone as a part of their relentless efforts and operations against violent non-state actors across the country.

The Nigerian Army says troops of Operation UDO KA have arrested a notorious IPOB/ESN commander, Ifeanyi Eze Okorienta, who is popularly known as Gentle de Yahoo, in Imo.

According to a credible source at the Army Headquarters, the successful arrest was recorded during a raid in Okigwe Local Government Area of the State.

Famousreporters.com writes with reference to the New Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The reliable source, as contained in the publication, said the operation was carried out on Sunday, following credible intelligence on the hideouts of the criminal kingpin.

According to The Nation, an investigative journalist Babajide Otitoju gave more details on how IPOB/ESN commander, Gentle de Yahoo, was captured.

Speaking of arrest, he explained that the troops surreptitiously approached the hideout in their quest to avoid raising suspicion.

Continuing, he explains that the soldiers trekked for almost four hours through what he described as a rough terrain to achieve an element of surprise before reaching the target location in the early hours of Sunday’s morning.

Speaking further, he said when the troops arrived, they quietly surrounded the compound where Gentle de Yahoo and his fighters were hiding. However, the terrorists, who had taken positions in the ceiling or rooftop, opened fire, which forced the soldiers to fire back.

Otitoju stated that when the troops realised those hiding in the ceiling were unwilling to come down, they decided to set the building on fire. Once the flames spread, two women and three men jumped out in an attempt to escape, but the soldiers shot at them.

He added that three others still remained in the ceiling. Among them was Gentle’s deputy, who eventually jumped down and tried to scale the wall, but was gunned down by the soldiers. He noted that two women and two men were also killed in the operation.

However, a narration by the source who spoke to NAN has it that the troops recovered an English pistol, 120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 25 rounds of 7.62 NATO ammunition, a live cartridge, six mobile phones, as well as police and military uniforms.

The source added that the troops also uncovered a criminal workshop used for dismantling stolen vehicles of kidnapped victims, where 10 motorcycles were destroyed.

According to him, the operation dealt a major blow to the activities of IPOB/ESN elements involved in kidnapping, arms possession, impersonation and sale of stolen vehicle parts in the South East.

The source further said the Nigerian Army remained committed to dismantling terrorist and criminal networks threatening peace and security in the region.

He, therefore urged residents to continue to support troops with timely and credible information to help rid the South East of criminal elements.