The notorious commander of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), an armed wing of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Ifeanyi Eze Okorienta alias Gentle de Yahoo, has shockingly reappeared in a video circulating online dated January 27, 2026.
This comes months after the Nigerian Army announced his arrest in September 2025 during a raid in Aku-Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.
In the resurfaced footage, Gentle de Yahoo is seen alive, thanking God for life while gospel music plays in the background, prompting widespread questions about the military’s custody claims.
Gentle de Yahoo, long accused of orchestrating kidnappings, attacks on security forces, and enforcing IPOB’s sit-at-home orders through violence in Imo State communities such as Okigwe, Orsu, and Arondizuogu, was paraded as a high-value target.
The Army’s 34 Artillery Brigade, in a joint operation, claimed to have seized arms, ammunition, uniforms, and vehicles from his hideout, hailing it as a major blow to IPOB/ESN operations.
Human rights group HURIWA initially praised the arrest but urged proof of his live capture amid concerns over extrajudicial killings in the Southeast.
Social media erupted on January 29, 2026, with videos and posts questioning the Army’s narrative, as users pointed to Gentle de Yahoo’s unverified fate post-arrest.
One viral clip labels him “the cannibal the army said was in their custody,” fueling rumors of his escape or staged detention.
Another post notes his claim that his top lieutenants were killed during the raid, suggesting he evaded full capture. The military has remained silent, intensifying public skepticism in a region plagued by insecurity and distrust of security agencies.
This reappearance underscores deeper undertones of corruption within Nigeria’s military, where high-profile arrests often fail to lead to convictions or transparency.
Critics, including security analysts, argue that such incidents reflect operational lapses, possible bribes allowing escapes, or fabricated successes to inflate performance metrics.
HURIWA has repeatedly called for zero-tolerance to corruption, extrajudicial actions, and unprofessionalism, citing patterns of rights abuses in Imo State operations.
The incident erodes public confidence in counter-insurgency efforts against IPOB/ESN, which have claimed over 1,800 lives in the Southeast since 2021 amid clashes involving gunmen, security forces, and vigilantes.
Experts such as retired officer Hassan Usman warn that without addressing root causes like economic grievances and political marginalization, arrests like Gentle de Yahoo’s offer only temporary relief.
His survival and continued broadcasts signal persistent operational challenges for the Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA.
In Imo State, a hotspot for ESN activities, residents fear renewed terror, extortion, and violence, as Gentle de Yahoo’s group has historically preyed on communities under the guise of separatism.
The lack of Army clarification risks portraying the institution as complicit in a cycle of impunity, where wanted criminals evade justice through alleged internal graft.
Calls mount for independent probes into his custody status and broader military accountability in the fight against Southeast insecurity.