The 34 Brigade of the Nigerian Army had raided Aku Ihube , Okigwe Imo Hideout Of ‘Unknown Gunmen’ Leader, Ifeanyi Eze Okorienta known as Gentle De Yahoo, Killing Five, Including Deputy
Leader of the gang.
The Army while confirming the report said that during the commando-style raid on the residence of a suspected criminal gang, the troops surrounded Gentle’s building but came under fire from his fighters, who fired at the soldiers from the roof.
However, reports circulating on social media on Tuesday indicated that the troops captured Gentle De Yahoo, the feared commander who has been linked to violent attacks in Imo State and other parts of the South-East.
According to Sahara Reporters, the Nigerian Army has yet to confirm if Gentle himself was among those killed during the operation or captured.
“In the past, efforts have been made to capture him and bring him to justice this time around, the Nigerian Army, 34 Brigade based in Owerri, Imo State, under 82 Division, stormed his community in Aku, Ihube, a village in Okigwe Local Government Area that shares boundary with Abia and Anambra states,” the Army said.
According to the Army, the operation was carefully executed on foot to avoid detection.
“The soldiers went on foot and trekked for close to four hours. They didn’t want to use armoured vehicles like they did in the past. It was more like a commando mission,” the Army explained.
The Army said that during the operation, the troops surrounded Gentle’s building but came under fire from his fighters, who fired at the soldiers from the roof.
“They surrounded his house, went in and Gentle’s boys were firing from the ceiling and our troops returned fire.
“When they saw that the guys who were firing from the roof were not going to come down, the army had no choice but to set the building ablaze.
“Once the building was set ablaze, two females and three males jumped out of the building and attempted to escape but the army opened fire but there were still three persons left on the roof who refused to come out.
“One of them was his two IC, who eventually jumped out and scaled the wall but the troops fired on him and they killed his two IC.
“The two females who were with them were also killed, as well as two males,” the Army said.
The Army made it clear that while confirmation of Gentle De Yahoo’s death was still pending, the operation significantly weakened his gang.
“We just have to wait and get confirmation. We are in the process of confirming whether he is among those killed but there is no escape for him.
“We cannot say categorically at this time that he was killed or he found a way to escape. In the fullness of time, the true situation will be confirmed, and we will tell Nigerians the exact situation and confirm whether Gentle De Yahoo has been killed or not,” the Army stated.
