“Gentle De Yahoo” is in our custody, Nigerian army confirms
The Nigerian Army has finally confirmed that Ifeanyi Eze, popularly known as “Gentle De Yahoo,” a notorious gang leader previously rumoured to be dead, is in its custody.
A statement on Friday said contrary to earlier reports, he is alive and currently in military custody.
In a statement released through a video, Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 82 Division, Enugu, stated that troops under Operation UDO KA successfully apprehended “Gentle De Yahoo” along with eight of his gang members during a major operation in Okigwe last month.
According to the statement, ten additional gang members were neutralised during the fierce exchange of gunfire that ensued during the operation.
In a follow-up raid conducted on October 13, 2025, troops also eliminated a high-ranking commander of the group, identified only as Alhaji, in Ezza-Eyimaggu, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Military intelligence revealed that Alhaji was shot dead after he attempted to disarm a soldier during his arrest.
His death, coming just weeks after the capture of Gentle the Yahoo, is regarded as another significant blow to the operational network of the armed group in the South East.
During the same follow-up operation, the military also arrested a female accomplice in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
She has been identified as the group’s logistics supplier. At the time of her arrest, three children were found in her custody. The children were later confirmed to be the offspring of a slain gang member, Mmaduabuchi Nwangwu, also known by the alias “Emergency.”
In a related development, troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade also operating under the Operation UDO KA formation uncovered and destroyed a shrine in Mbaotoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
The shrine, according to field reports, served as a hub for indoctrination, criminal planning, and the coordination of attacks against security forces and civilians.
Items recovered from the site included assorted charms, communication equipment, propaganda materials, and recruitment tools. Several camps believed to have been used for training and meetings by the secessionist group were also dismantled.
The Nigerian Army further disclosed that similar coordinated operations were carried out simultaneously in other regions of the country, resulting in the seizure of a significant cache of arms, ammunition, and logistics supplies.
Reaffirming its commitment to national security, the Army stated that Operation UDO KA will continue its mission to dismantle criminal networks and restore lasting peace and stability across the South East.
