Katsina State Police Command has arrested an alleged member of the proscribed terrorist group, Eastern Security Network (ESN).
David Eric Uchenna, who also goes by the name Ibrahim Muhammed was reportedly arrested by the police at Kofar Sauri Quarters in Katsina metropolis, following a tip-off from some of his allies whom he confided in.
NigeriaCrime.com gathered that Eric Uchenna a native of Orji Rivers in Enugu State claimed he denounced his membership of the terrorist group of which he use to be under one of their leaders, identified as Eminike (aka SAPALE) with over 400 members at their camp in Akpogozie forest in Orji River LGA.
According to the suspect, “we ran away from ESN after stealing N700,000 from one of the ransom money paid by a kidnapped victim and came to Katsina with some of my friends to meet my mum. But unfortunately, she was not around so we checked into a lodge.
“My friends were jittery and had to leave Katsina for fear of being caught since they don’t understand the terrain.
“However, before they left, we shared the money we stole from ESN among us of which I got N200,000.
So, one day I went to one of my friend’s houses and we got talking with him and one other friend. I confided in them that I was an ESN member and revealed some of their atrocities. I also told them sincerely that I have left them because I am not in support of their activities, knowing that if I die pursuing their cause, I will end up in hell. That’s why I came back to Katsina,” Uchenna said
The Spokesman of the Katsina Police Command, SP Gambo Isah, who paraded the suspect at the state command said, “On the 02/11/2022 at about 1945hrs, based on a tip-off, one David Eric Uchenna, A.K.A. Ibrahim Muhammed, aged 19 years of Orji River LGA of Enugu state, strongly suspected to be a kidnapper was arrested at Kofar Sauri Quarters, Katsina.
“In the course of investigation, the suspect confessed that he belongs to the gang of the proscribed terrorist group “Eastern Security Network”, (ESN) with their camp at Akpogozie forest in Orji River LGA of Enugu State under the leadership of one Eminike a.k.a. “SAPALE” with over four (400) hundred members, terrorizing the South Eastern states of Nigeria.
“He further confessed that his gang kidnapped someone in Imo state and collected the sum of ten million naira (10,000, 000:00K) as ransom but stole the sum of seven hundred (N700,000:00K) from the camp and escaped to Katsina state, alongside one Chuckwumeka and Chinemerem, the duo had left Katsina since to evade arrest. Furthermore, the suspect confessed to committing a series of crimes ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping and other heinous crimes in the eastern states of Nigeria. Investigation is ongoing, please.”