19 years old suspected ESN member arrested in Katsina

Operatives of the Katsina State Police Command have arrested a 19 years old boy suspected member of the proscribed terrorists group, Eastern Security Network (ESN) at Kofar Sauri Quarters within Katsina metropolis.

The state police spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, who disclosed this said the suspect identified as David Eric Uchenna also goes by the name Ibrahim Muhammed.

According to SP Gambo, the suspect, an indigene of Enugu State said he use to be under one of the ESN leader, Emenike (aka SAPALE) and they have over 400 members in their camp located at Akpogozie forest in Orji River LGA.

Uchenna said, “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 house 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. In fact, that’s why I came back to Katsina.”

The PPRO while parading the suspect said: “On 02/11/2022 at about 1945hrs, based on a tip-off, one Davis 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 investigations, 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. An investigation is ongoing, please.”