Anger and suspicion are boiling over in Imo State as families of victims and stakeholders in Okigwe Zone accuse the Nigerian Government and military of playing tricks with the fate of the dreaded gang leader, Gentle de Yahoo.

In passionate outbursts, community voices say the authorities must prove beyond doubt whether Gentle has been captured or killed — and stop what they describe as a dangerous game of silence and half-truths.

Ebekuo Dike, a concerned Igbo citizen, thundered in a voice note obtained by Jungle-Journalist.Com:

“If it is true that Gentle de Yahoo has been arrested, the Nigerian Government must parade him! Let the world see him, let the Southeast see him. We cannot be deceived. Not even one security team admits they arrested him. So who did? Until we see him, we will never believe them.”

Another voice, De Boss of the Okigwe Zone Think Tank, who calls himself the “Senior Advocate of the Masses,” accused the government of plotting to use Gentle’s name for politics ahead of 2027:

“We don’t want tricks. Families of his victims are still mourning, yet they want to turn Gentle de Yahoo into an election tool. He butchered civilians, murdered soldiers, police officers, DSS operatives, vigilantes, harvested organs, ate human flesh. Such a man cannot just disappear. If they truly got him, let them show us his body, dead or alive. Enough of the lies.”

Stakeholders say the absence of concrete proof — a photo, video, or even official parade of the suspect — fuels suspicion that Gentle is either alive and protected or being kept for political games. Families of those murdered by his gang insist they cannot move on until the government provides answers.

Army’s Position

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has confirmed that troops of the 34 Brigade, operating under the 82 Division in Owerri, Imo State, carried out a commando-style raid on Gentle de Yahoo’s stronghold in Aku, Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area.

According to the Army, soldiers stormed his residence after trekking for hours on foot to avoid detection. Fierce gunfire broke out as Gentle’s men fired from the roof, forcing troops to set the building ablaze.

The Army said two male and two female fighters were killed, including Gentle’s second-in-command. However, they stressed that it was still unclear whether Gentle himself was among the casualties.

“At this time, what I can report is that the soldiers recovered those corpses but they cannot confirm yet whether Gentle de Yahoo was one of them,” a military spokesperson explained. “We are in the process of confirming whether he is among those killed, but there is no escape for him.”

The Call for Proof

Despite the military’s assurances, Imo citizens and stakeholders insist that words are not enough. They are demanding photographic or video evidence of Gentle’s arrest or death.

Anything short of that, they warn, will be taken as proof that the government is deceiving the people.