The Nigerian Army has officially confirmed the capture of the notorious gang leader, Ifeanyi Eze, widely known as “Gentle De Yahoo,” whose reported death had earlier sparked speculation across the South East.
In a statement released on Friday through a video briefing, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Enugu, Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, said Eze is alive and currently in military custody.
According to Ayeni, troops operating under Operation UDO KA apprehended Gentle De Yahoo and eight of his gang members during a major operation in Okigwe, Imo State, last month. Ten other members of the group were reportedly neutralised in a fierce gun duel during the raid.
“The operation was a well-coordinated offensive that disrupted one of the most dangerous criminal networks operating across Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi States,” Ayeni said.
In a follow-up raid conducted on October 13, 2025, troops eliminated a high-ranking commander of the same gang identified only as Alhaji, during an encounter in Ezza-Eyimaggu, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Military intelligence reports revealed that Alhaji was fatally shot after attempting to disarm a soldier during his arrest. His death, just weeks after the capture of Gentle De Yahoo, has been described by security sources as another major blow to the operational backbone of the armed network.
During the same coordinated operation, soldiers arrested a female logistics supplier to the gang in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State. She was reportedly found with three children later confirmed to be the offspring of a slain gang member, Mmaduabuchi Nwangwu, popularly known as “Emergency.”
In a related operation, troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade, also under Operation UDO KA, discovered and destroyed a major shrine in Mbaotoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
Field intelligence indicates that the shrine served as a centre for indoctrination, criminal planning, and the coordination of attacks against both security forces and civilians.
Items recovered from the site included assorted charms, communication gadgets, propaganda materials, and recruitment tools. Several adjoining camps believed to have been used for training and secret meetings by the secessionist-linked group were also dismantled.
The Army disclosed that the operations in the South East were part of a broader, simultaneous sweep across various regions of the country. The nationwide exercise reportedly led to the recovery of a significant cache of arms, ammunition, and logistics supplies.
Reaffirming the Nigerian Army’s commitment to restoring peace and stability, Lt. Col. Ayeni assured that Operation UDO KA would sustain its offensive until all criminal enclaves in the region are dismantled.
“The Nigerian Army remains resolute in its mission to secure the nation, dismantle terrorist and criminal networks, and ensure lasting peace across the South East and beyond,” the statement concluded.
The confirmation of Gentle De Yahoo’s capture, coupled with the elimination of key figures within his network, marks a significant milestone in the military’s ongoing efforts to neutralize violent non-state actors and restore order in the troubled region.
