Nigerian Army Confirms Raid on Imo Hideout of ‘Unknown Gunmen’ Leader, Gentle De Yahoo — Five K!lled, Including His Deputy
The Nigerian Army has confirmed that troops of the 34 Brigade, operating under the 82 Division headquartered in Enugu, carried out a decisive commando-style raid on the hideout of the notorious “Unknown Gunmen” leader known as Gentle De Yahoo in Aku, Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.
The operation, which military sources described as “meticulously planned” and “intelligence-led,” resulted in the deaths of five members of Gentle’s network, including his second-in-command (popularly referred to as his “two IC”), and the recovery of several weapons. However, the army stated that confirmation is still pending on whether Gentle himself was among the dead.
The raid has generated widespread conversation across Imo State and the entire South-East, where the so-called Unknown Gunmen have been linked to scores of attacks on security forces, government facilities, traditional rulers, and civilians over the last four years.
Gentle De Yahoo, whose real name remains unverified, has been one of the most feared figures in the violent underground networks operating in Imo and neighboring states. His moniker, ironically including the word “Gentle,” belied his reputation for ruthlessness. Security officials have described him as a key coordinator of targeted k!llings, abductions, and extortion operations in Okigwe axis, a region that shares porous borders with Abia and Anambra states.
For months, his name has dominated community meetings and security briefings. Reports from local residents painted a picture of a man who moved with a heavily armed retinue, demanded loyalty through fear, and allegedly imposed “levies” on traders and transporters.
Perhaps most infamously, Gentle and his gang were accused of being behind a viral execution video earlier this year that shocked the nation. The video showed three young men being summarily executed, an incident that galvanized public calls for the government to “smoke out” those responsible.
According to military sources, the operation was the culmination of several weeks of intensive intelligence gathering, surveillance, and human intelligence operations. A senior security officer who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that multiple informants had been quietly recruited within Okigwe and surrounding communities to monitor Gentle’s movements.
“Several attempts to capture him in the past had failed because he had a well-established early warning system,” the officer said. “Whenever we moved with armored vehicles or in large convoys, someone would alert him, and he would vanish into the forest. This time, we did it differently.”
The operation was described as one of the most daring in recent memory. Instead of using armored personnel carriers and Hilux convoys, which often give away military movements, the troops moved entirely on foot, trekking for nearly four hours through dense vegetation to approach Gentle’s compound undetected.
“This was deliberate,” said the Army spokesperson. “We wanted to avoid detection at all costs. It was more like a commando mission. The element of surprise was critical to its success.”
At about 3:00 a.m., just before dawn, the soldiers quietly surrounded Gentle’s residence. But as soon as they closed in, they came under heavy fire from Gentle’s fighters, who were reportedly positioned on the roof and in the ceiling of the building.
“They were shooting from elevated positions, trying to pin down our troops,” the army source said. “It became clear that they were not going to surrender peacefully.”
Faced with entrenched resistance, the army escalated. After repeated calls for the fighters to surrender were ignored, and with continued fire raining down on the troops, the soldiers reportedly set the building ablaze to flush out its occupants.
Witnesses in Aku said they saw flames engulf the structure as gunfire echoed through the early morning air.
According to the army’s statement, as the fire intensified, two women and three men leapt from the building, attempting to flee. Troops opened fire to prevent their escape, killing four of them on the spot.
Among those neutralized was Gentle’s deputy commander, the dreaded “two IC,” whose death the army confirmed.
“His two IC tried to scale the fence, but our men engaged him before he could escape,” the army spokesperson said. “The other fighters — two women and two men — were also neutralized.”
The most pressing question now dominating conversations is whether Gentle himself is dead.
The army has been cautious, refusing to make a definitive statement until forensic confirmation is complete.
“At this time, what I can report is that we have recovered the corpses of four fighters, including his two IC, but we cannot confirm yet if Gentle was among those killed,” the army said. “Villagers are saying he was in the building, but until we conduct proper verification, we will not make any premature announcement.”
The reaction in Ihube and neighboring communities has been mixed but intense.
Many residents expressed relief, saying they can now breathe freely after months of living under siege.
“For the first time in months, we slept with our two eyes closed last night,” said a local farmer who gave his name as Nnadi. “Gentle was a nightmare. He extorted money from us, took our sons by force, and killed without pity.”
Market women in Okigwe reportedly broke into dance when news of the raid filtered in, describing it as divine intervention.
But some expressed fear of reprisals from surviving gang members. “This is not the end,” said Ngozi, a schoolteacher. “Gentle’s boys are many. Some are hiding in the bush. They may come back to attack us.”
Others were skeptical about whether Gentle is truly dead. “We have heard news of his death before, only for him to reappear,” said one resident. “Until we see his body, we cannot believe.”
Some human rights activists have raised concerns about the setting ablaze of the building and the killing of the female fighters.
“We commend the army for restoring order,” said the Civil Liberties Organization in a statement. “However, we call for transparency and adherence to the rules of engagement. Those captured alive should have been handed over for trial rather than summarily executed.”
Military officials have defended their actions, saying the operation was conducted under hostile fire and that all rules of engagement were followed.
Security analysts say this raid could be a turning point in the fight against Unknown Gunmen.
“This is the most significant blow against them in months,” said Dr. Mike Nwosu, a counterterrorism expert. “Taking out Gentle’s second-in-command disrupts their command structure and sends a strong deterrent message.”
However, Dr. Nwosu warned that the problem of insecurity in the region cannot be solved by force alone. “Yes, this is a tactical victory, but the government must follow up with community policing, intelligence gathering, and addressing the root causes — unemployment, marginalization, and lack of trust between locals and security agencies.”
Leaders across party lines have reacted to the development. Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma praised the army for “restoring confidence in the ability of the state to protect its citizens.”
He called on remaining members of the gang to surrender unconditionally. “The government is ready to reintegrate those who lay down their arms,” he said.
Opposition politicians have urged caution, warning against extra-judicial killings and urging the army to release the names of those killed.
For now, the army has maintained a presence in Ihube to prevent reprisals and to comb nearby forests for fleeing gang members.
Sources indicate that intelligence gathering is ongoing to confirm Gentle’s fate. “If he escaped, it is only a matter of time before we track him down,” one military officer vowed.
The raid on Gentle De Yahoo’s hideout is both a dramatic military success and a moment of reckoning for the South-East. Whether or not Gentle himself was k!lled, the message is clear: the state is willing and able to strike at the heart of organized violence.
But as history has shown, security gains must be consolidated with political dialogue, community engagement, and economic revival — otherwise, another Gentle may rise to take his place.
For Ndi Igbo, this is a moment of both relief and reflection: relief that one of the most feared men in the region may have met his end, and reflection on how such figures rise to power in the first place.