Abuja, October 15, 2025 — The Nigerian Armed Forces have announced the arrest of a high-profile Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) commander known as “Gentle”, together with eight accomplices, in coordinated operations across Imo and Ebonyi states. The arrests signal intensified pressure by the military on separatist and militant structures in the South-East.
Major General Magnus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, confirmed the operation during a press briefing in Abuja. He stated that troops from Operation UDO KA conducted “sustained offensive operations” between October 8 and October 13 in multiple local government areas (LGAs).
Key details disclosed include:
- “Gentle” had been on the military’s wanted list for alleged terrorist activities in the region.
- His arrest took place in Owerri West and Mbaitoli LGAs of Imo State, and Izzi and Ohaukwu LGAs of Ebonyi State.
- The military also seized arms, ammunition and vehicles in associated raids.
- A female collaborator linked to IPOB / its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), was arrested in Umunneochi LGA of Abia State. During her arrest, three children were found in her custody — reportedly the biological children of “Emergency,” a wanted IPOB/ESN leader, Maduabuchi Nwankwo. (Channels Television)
This arrest has both symbolic and strategic weight:
- Disruption of command networks: Removing a commander on the wanted list can degrade operational capacity, disrupt logistics and sow uncertainty within hostile ranks.
- Geographic coordination: The multi-LGA spread of the operation suggests credible intelligence and cross-border coordination within the South-East axis.
- Collateral challenges: Arresting a female logistics supporter with children raises the delicate question of balancing hard security operations with humanitarian and child protection obligations.
The operation also underscores the military’s attempts to pivot from a reactive posture to proactive, intelligence-driven operations in IPOB/ESN theater.
While the arrests are significant, several cautions merit attention:
- Due process & prosecution: Arrests must translate into credible investigations, fair trials, and forensic evidence — not merely headline captures.
- Civilian rights and collateral damage: Safeguarding innocent bystanders — especially children — is essential to maintain legitimacy and minimize backlash in communities.
- Sustainability: Single operations, no matter how bold, must be backed by long-term strategies: local governance, reconciliation, deradicalization, and economic inclusion.
- Accountability: The public must have oversight over military conduct. Allegations of abuse, extrajudicial actions or intelligence overreach must be subject to transparent review.
The arrest of “Gentle” and his associates marks a tactical victory for Nigeria’s security forces — but the deeper test lies in turning arrests into accountability, disruption into reform, and pressure into restoration of stability in Nigeria’s volatile South-East.
Published on DefenceTimesNG.Africa
