Ifeanyi Eze Okorienta, commonly referred to as Gentle de Yahoo, the infamous leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its paramilitary division, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), has been apprehended by the Nigerian Army.
Mr. Okorienta was captured at his concealed location in Aku-Ihube, within the Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, through a coordinated effort by the troops of the 34th Artillery Brigade in conjunction with various security agencies.
In confirming the successful operation, military officials reported that the apprehension led to the confiscation of an array of weaponry and associated items. This cache included an English pistol, 120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 25 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, a cartridge, six mobile telephones, military and police uniforms, as well as a German flag.
Additionally, the troops discovered a workshop utilized for the disassembly of stolen vehicles intended for resale and subsequently destroyed ten motorcycles situated at the location.
What is Ifeanyi Eze Okorienta, commonly referred as Gentle de Yahoo
Ifeanyi Eze Okorienta, widely known by his alias "Gentle de Yahoo" (or simply "Gentle the Yahoo"), is a self-proclaimed militant leader from Imo State in southeastern Nigeria. Born and raised in the region, Okorienta emerged as a figure in the volatile landscape of separatist and criminal activities in the Igbo heartland, where tensions between pro-Biafra groups and Nigerian security forces have simmered for years.
His moniker, blending a seemingly innocuous "Gentle" with "Yahoo" (slang for internet fraudsters), reflects his reputed origins in cybercrime before escalating to more violent pursuits.
At around 30-35 years old (exact age unconfirmed in public records), he positioned himself as a "general" or commandant in armed factions, terrorizing communities through kidnappings, armed robberies, and extrajudicial killings.
Rise as a Criminal Kingpin
Okorienta's notoriety stems from his leadership of a gang operating in Okigwe and surrounding areas of Imo State, a hotspot for insecurity in Nigeria's Southeast. He was accused of masterminding a network involved in vehicle theft, ransom demands, and brutal enforcement of "discipline" among his followers.
A particularly infamous incident in late 2024 involved a viral video where a masked gunman widely identified as Okorienta executed three teenage boys accused of unauthorized armed robbery. The victims, who had confessed and begged for mercy, were shot dead on camera as a warning to others.
This act, which circulated widely on social media, drew widespread condemnation and solidified his image as a ruthless enforcer. Prior to his full descent into militancy, Okorienta was linked to "Yahoo Yahoo" scams, using his tech savvy to orchestrate fraud rings.
By 2024, his operations had evolved into a hybrid of criminal enterprise and pseudo-political insurgency, with hideouts equipped for dismantling stolen vehicles and stockpiling arms. Security raids in November 2024 by joint forces (including the Nigerian Army's 34 Artillery Brigade, police, DSS, and NSCDC) displaced him from Aku village in Okigwe, forcing him deeper underground.
These early operations recovered improvised weapons and uncovered his gang's role in local extortion rackets.
Alleged Leadership in IPOB and ESN
The Nigerian military and government portray Okorienta as a high-ranking commander in the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a pro-Biafran separatist movement led by Nnamdi Kanu, and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
IPOB, designated a terrorist organization by Nigeria in 2017, advocates for the independence of the Biafran region (encompassing southeastern states like Imo) and has clashed repeatedly with federal forces. ESN was formed in 2020 ostensibly to combat Fulani herdsmen incursions but has been accused of broader insurgent activities, including attacks on police stations and government infrastructure.
According to military statements, Okorienta commanded an ESN cell responsible for "terrorizing" Imo residents through kidnappings and killings, using IPOB's separatist rhetoric as cover for profit-driven crimes. His gang allegedly enforced "sit-at-home" orders a weekly lockdown tactic popularized by IPOB while profiting from the chaos. Some reports tie him to the Biafra Liberation Army (BLA), a splinter faction claiming independence from IPOB, but Nigerian authorities lump him under the IPOB/ESN umbrella to justify crackdowns.
Denials and Counter-Narratives
IPOB loyalists vehemently deny Okorienta's affiliation, labeling him a "criminal element" and "auto thief" who falsely invoked Biafran causes to mask his Yahoo roots.
In social media posts and statements from IPOB's Directorate of State (DOS), supporters argue that the group has repeatedly called on Nigerian forces to arrest him for endangering civilians.
They accuse the military of propaganda to discredit the broader Biafran movement, pointing out that Okorienta never appeared in official IPOB communications and operated more like a rogue warlord than an ideological fighter.
This divide highlights the complex ecosystem of factions in the Southeast, where genuine separatists, criminals, and state infiltrators blur lines.
Capture and Aftermath
On September 16, 2025, troops from the 34 Artillery Brigade, in a joint operation with other security agencies, raided Okorienta's hideout in Aku-Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, capturing him without resistance.
The operation yielded a significant arms cache: one English pistol, 120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 25 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, a cartridge, six mobile phones, military and police uniforms, and a German flag (possibly a symbolic or smuggling artifact). Authorities also dismantled a vehicle-dismantling workshop and destroyed 10 motorcycles used by his gang.
The arrest triggered jubilation among security personnel and some locals weary of his reign of fear, but it reignited debates on X (formerly Twitter). Pro-IPOB accounts dismissed it as "fake news" until official confirmation, while others mocked the group's disavowals. As of now, Okorienta faces terrorism charges and potential trial in Abuja, joining a list of ESN figures nabbed in ongoing Operation Udo Ka.
His capture is touted as a blow to IPOB's operational capacity in Imo, though skeptics warn it may not stem the tide of splinter violence. Okorienta's story encapsulates the Southeast's turmoil: a mix of genuine grievances over marginalization, opportunistic crime, and heavy-handed state responses. Whether he was a true believer in Biafra or just a "Yahoo" gone rogue, his downfall underscores the human cost of Nigeria's unresolved ethnic fault lines.
Post a Comment