The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced it will investigate a viral video showing notorious terror kingpin Ifeanyi Eze, popularly known as Gentle De Yahoo, alive and free—despite earlier reports of his capture by the Nigerian military.
The video, which has circulated widely on social media, shows Mr. Eze celebrating his survival and claiming he had been in Akwa Ibom State receiving medical treatment after a poisoning incident involving him and his followers.
In the clip, he also threatened individuals he accused of betraying him.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, noted that the clip could be artificially generated using AI, adding, “In this current dispensation of AI, it is possible to create anything to destabilize and cause panic within society.”
He stressed, however, that the military would take immediate action if the kingpin’s return is confirmed.
“Notwithstanding, we will initiate necessary action with relevant security agencies to confirm if it is truly him,” Onoja said.
Ifeanyi Eze hails from Imo State, South-east Nigeria, and has been linked to deadly attacks in Okigwe Local Government Area, including the murder of three of his followers.
He is reportedly a commander of the Biafra Liberation Army, a faction associated with Simon Ekpa’s Autopilot wing of IPOB.
Mr. Ekpa was recently jailed for terrorism in Finland.
Earlier reports had indicated that Mr. Eze may have been killed during a Nigerian military raid in Aku-Ihube, Okigwe LGA, in September 2025, though his fate remained unclear.
