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Shocking report circulating online on social media on the 29th of January 2026 shows Gentle De Yahoo, the controversial figure long reported captured or killed by the Nigerian military, alive and addressing the public in a widely shared video clip. The footage has reignited national debate about his fate after months of speculation following military operations in Imo State in 2025.
The man in the video identifies himself as Ifeanyi Eze Okorienta, better known by the alias Gentle De Yahoo, a name repeatedly linked in Nigerian daily reports to armed networks active in the South-East. News outlets have described him as a commander connected to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), accused of kidnappings, extortion and violent enforcement of sit-at-home orders that disrupted daily life in parts of the region.
In the footage, Gentle De Yahoo sits facing the camera against a backdrop of draped fabrics and symbolic objects resembling traditional ceremonial décor. Several figures stand quietly behind him as he speaks directly to viewers in a firm tone. He begins by rejecting rumors of his death, insisting that reports of his killing were unfounded, and asserts that he is alive to address “confusion in the public space.”
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He then shifts to what he describes as a contentious social discussion about identity labels, specifically the suggestion that some Igbo people are adopting a Muslim religious identity. He declares such tags as “not welcome among our people,” and warns that he and his group — which he frames as a Biafra liberation force — will take action against anyone promoting or embracing that identity within their influence.
His language is ideological and uncompromising.
The resurfacing comes after September and October 2025 reporting that troops from the Nigerian Army’s 34 Artillery Brigade and sister security agencies conducted a coordinated operation in Aku-Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, where they claimed to have arrested Gentle De Yahoo, seized weapons, ammunition and other materials linked to criminal operations. At the time, official military confirmation was inconsistent and independent verification of his arrest remained unclear.
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As of now, neither the Nigerian Army nor the Defence Headquarters has issued a formal response to the newly circulating footage or Gentle De Yahoo’s statements. The video has spread rapidly across social media, prompting widespread calls for clarification from security authorities on his status and the circumstances of his appearance.
