The Nigerian military has confirmed the arrest of a wanted commander of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), identified as “Gentle,” along with eight of his accomplices in Imo and Ebonyi States.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Magnus Kangye, said “Gentle” had long been on the military’s wanted list for alleged terrorist activities across the South-East region.
“The Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA troops sustained offensive operations throughout the week under review. Between 8 and 13 October, they carried out several offensives and apprehended a suspected IPOB/ESN terrorist commander known as Gentle, who had been on the troops’ wanted list, alongside eight other criminals in Owerri West and Mbaitoli Local Government Areas of Imo State, as well as Izzi and Ohaukwu Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State,” Kangye stated.
He added that the troops recovered several weapons, rounds of ammunition, and vehicles during the operations.
Major General Kangye also disclosed that troops arrested a female collaborator linked to IPOB’s Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State on 13 October.
“The suspect is believed to be one of their logistics suppliers. During her arrest, three children were found in her custody, and investigations revealed they were the biological children of a wanted IPOB/ESN leader identified as Maduabuchi Nwankwo, also known as ‘Emergency’,” he explained.
The Defence Headquarters further outlined other recent operational successes achieved by the armed forces across the country within the past two weeks.