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).
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.’’
