Wednesday, September 17, 2025 - Troops of the Nigerian Army have recorded another round of success in their amplified onslaught against violent non-state actors across the country.
Yesterday, a highly reliable Army source revealed the
killing of three terrorists and the arrest of a notorious commander of
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/ Eastern Security Network(ESN), Ifeanyi
Okorienta (aka Gentle de Yahoo).
Eleven suspected armed robbers, gunrunners and violent
extremists were also arrested in Kaduna, Kogi and Benue states, while 12 kidnap
victims were rescued in Katsina, Kogi and Adamawa.
The feats were achieved by the troops within 24 hours,
said the source at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
The military source did not give the names of the
neutralised terrorists and their groups. But he said that Okorienta was
apprehended during a joint operation by the 34 Artillery Brigade and sister
security agencies in Aku-Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo
State.
Arms and ammunition, mobile phones, military and police
uniforms, and a German flag were recovered from his hideout.
Ten motorcycles and a workshop where stolen vehicles were
dismantled and sold were seen at the scene. They were destroyed by the
troops.
Okorienta’s name hit the social media recently after he
recorded and posted a video of three of his followers, who he shot dead for
allegedly stealing telephones from stranded passengers.
The military source said: “The operation led to the recovery
of one English pistol, 120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 25 rounds of
7.62mm NATO, one cartridge, six mobile phones, military and police uniforms,
and a German flag.
Troops also uncovered a workshop where stolen vehicles were
dismantled for resale, in addition to destroying 10 motorcycles found at the
scene.”
An investigative journalist. Babajide Otitoju , gave further
insight on how Gentle de Yahoo was captured.
Otitoju said on TVC’s Journalists Hangout that the troops
went to his IPOB/ ESN commander’s hideout in a highly coded form in order not
to arouse suspicion.
His words: “To achieve the element of surprise, troops opted
to trek for nearly four hours through rough terrain before arriving at the
target location in the early hours of the morning.
“On arrival, the soldiers discreetly surrounded the compound
housing ‘Gentle de Yahoo” and his fighters. However, the terrorists who were in
the ceiling or rooftop opened fire, prompting troops to return fire.
“But when the troops noticed that those inside the ceiling
didn’t want to come down, they had no choice but to set the building ablaze.
“Once the building was on fire, two females and three
males jumped out and attempted to escape but the Army opened fire.
“There were still three people left on the roof or ceiling
who failed to come down. One of them was “Gentle’s” second-in-command, but he
eventually jumped down and scaled the wall, but the troops fired at him and
killed him. Two females who were with them were also killed as well as two
males.’’
The military source also said
that troops recorded notable operational breakthroughs in
Katsina State, neutralising two terrorists in separate encounters, and
recovered an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, and a motorcycle.’’
In Benue State, he revealed that ‘’troops neutralised one
violent extremist, seizing a mobile phone and assorted charms.
In August, two terrorist commanders, Mahmud Usman and Mahmud
al-Nigeri’ were arrested in a targeted operation by operatives.
Usman was described as a leader of the al-Qaida-linked
faction Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi Biladis Sudan, popularly known as
Ansaru. Al-Nigeri is said to be associated with the
emergent Mahmuda network in the Northcentral.
Both of them are facing terrorism charges at the Abuja
Federal High Court. Usman was jailed 15 years for admitting his involvement in
illegal mining and using the proceeds to fund terror
activities.
The military source also explained that five of the kidnap
victims were rescued in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, five
in Kukasheka Ward, Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina
State, and two in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.
According to him, the 11 suspects were arrested in
different locations in Benue, Kogi, and Kaduna states for armed robbery,
gunrunning, and violent extremist activities.
He added that 40 cattle rustled in Plateau State were
recovered and returned to their owners.
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