Nigerian Army Declares Ifeanyi Eze Wanted, Offers ₦30M Reward

• The Nigerian Army has declared Ifeanyi Eze, known as Gentle De Yahoo, wanted for threatening peace in the South-east.
• A reward of ₦30,000,000 is offered for credible information leading to his capture.
• Eze was previously declared "captured" by Operation Udo Ka troops in October 2025 but resurfaced in a viral video on January 28, 2026.
• He is alleged to be a commander of the Biafra Liberation Army in Okigwe, a group linked to Simon Ekpa's Autopilot faction of the proscribed IPOB.
• The wanted notice is part of Operation Udo Ka's ongoing efforts to clear criminal networks and armed groups, particularly those associated with IPOB activities, in the South-east.

This high-profile wanted notice and the substantial reward offered underscore the Nigerian Army's commitment to restoring peace and order in the South-east.

The Nigerian Army has officially declared Ifeanyi Eze, widely recognized by his alias Gentle De Yahoo, as a wanted individual. This significant development comes with a substantial reward of ₦30,000,000 for anyone providing credible intelligence that leads directly to his apprehension. The wanted notice, which includes a photograph of Mr. Eze, was disseminated by the Joint Task Force operating in the South-east, known as Operation Udo Ka, and prominently features the emblems of both the Nigerian Army and the task force.

Mr. Eze, who originates from Imo State in Nigeria's South-east region, is accused of threatening regional peace. The notice explicitly encourages members of the public to contact security authorities using provided phone numbers if they possess relevant information. Crucially, the military has assured that any information shared can be submitted anonymously, aiming to facilitate the flow of critical intelligence regarding the alleged terror kingpin.

This recent declaration follows a complex series of events surrounding Mr. Eze's status. Troops from Operation Udo Ka had previously announced his "capture" during an operation conducted in Imo State between October 8 and 13, 2025. However, this claim was dramatically contradicted when Mr. Eze resurfaced publicly on January 28, 2026, in a video that quickly went viral across social media platforms.

In the widely circulated footage, Mr. Eze was seen announcing his return from an undisclosed location, issuing threats against individuals he accused of betrayal. The video also depicted him dancing in celebration of his survival, and he suggested that he had been in Akwa Ibom State, located in Nigeria's South-south region, where he reportedly sought medical attention after he and his associates were allegedly poisoned. Reacting to the video in late January, Major General Michael Onoja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, initially posited that the clip might have been generated using artificial intelligence to sow discord. Despite this initial skepticism, he affirmed that the military would collaborate with relevant security agencies to verify Mr. Eze's reappearance and would take immediate action if his return was confirmed, to prevent further harm.

Ifeanyi Eze is identified as a commander within the Biafra Liberation Army in Okigwe, a group established by Simon Ekpa, a contentious Biafra agitator and leader of the Autopilot faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). IPOB is a proscribed organization advocating for an independent state of Biafra, which it seeks to establish from Nigeria's South-east and parts of its South-south regions. Mr. Ekpa himself was incarcerated last year in Finland on terrorism charges.

Mr. Eze, who purports to be a Biafran agitator, has been implicated in several deadly assaults within the Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State. These alleged acts of violence include the killing of three of his own fighters in the vicinity. Earlier reports from PREMIUM TIMES in September indicated that Mr. Eze and his operatives were presumed dead following a raid by Nigerian troops on their hideout in Aku-Ihube, a community also situated in the Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, underscoring the persistent conflict in the area.

The declaration against Ifeanyi Eze, also known as Gentle De Yahoo, is part of a broader, ongoing security initiative in Nigeria's South-east. Operation Udo Ka, an army-led joint security team, has been specifically tasked with dismantling criminal networks and armed groups throughout the region. A primary focus of this operation is to counter activities linked to the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its various factions.

This high-profile wanted notice and the substantial reward offered underscore the Nigerian Army's commitment to restoring peace and order in the South-east. For legal and compliance professionals advising clients in Nigeria, particularly within the South-east, this development highlights the intensified national security operations against proscribed entities. It signals potential risks for clients operating in security-sensitive sectors or those who might inadvertently interact with individuals or groups associated with such proscribed organizations, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance and due diligence in the region.

Lawyers and compliance officers advising clients in Nigeria, particularly in the South-east, should be aware of this high-profile wanted declaration and the substantial reward offered. This development underscores ongoing national security operations against proscribed groups like IPOB and its factions, potentially impacting clients involved in security-sensitive sectors or those who might inadvertently interact with individuals linked to such groups.

Source: Original reporting via PREMIUM TIMES