By Dianabasi Effiong, Uyo
The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State says it apprehended a 13-year-old boy with a pistol in Eket.
The teenager is suspected to have used the pistol to threaten fellow pupils in St. Paul Primary School Ikot Ibiok Eket in Eket Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, CP Baba Azare, made this known in a press briefing at the Command headquarters in Uyo on Wednesday.
Azare said the operatives of the command acted on credible information on Jan. 30 at about 0800 hours that the boy was going about with a pistol in the school, threatening to shoot fellow pupils.
“The operatives of the Command immediately swung into action and arrested the suspect and recovered a locally made pistol.
“On interrogation, the suspect confessed that he has been with the said gun since Nov. 2024; that he got the gun from a wardrobe in his father’s bedroom,” Azare said.
The CP also said that the father had been arrested, adding that the investigation was ongoing.
He said that the command also arrested two young girls who conspired and stole a child sometime in June 2024 at Obong Itam in Itu LGA.
He added that the suspects sold the child for N200,000 to someone in Cross River State.
Azare said that the suspects confessed to having used the proceeds to purchase a refrigerator, television, and fan.
He said the items were recovered from the suspects, adding that an investigation was ongoing to arrest the buyer.
“In another development, On Feb.1 at about 0800hr, based on a complaint from two young girls that one woman attempted to traffic them to Cross River for them to have an affair with men and get pregnant to sell the babies and share the money.
“Operatives of the command swung into action and arrested one Gift Essien Tommy ‘f’ and one Peace Ekanem ‘f’.
Investigation is ongoing,” he said.
Azare also said that on Feb.1, based on a complaint from a woman in Afaha Offiong in Nsit Ibom, that she sent her nine-year-old daughter on an errand on Jan. 31 at about 1600 hours, that one Aniefiok Edem, (male) age 60, dragged the nine-year-old girl into the bush, removed her clothes, had carnal knowledge of her, and later gave her N200.
According to the CP, the suspect will be charged in Court as soon as investigations are concluded.
The CP added that the command also apprehended other suspects who were involved in cult-related activities, unlawful possession of firearms, and illicit drugs, among others.
He said that the Command would not relent in the effort to rid the State of all crimes and criminalities.
Azare urged residents of Akwa Ibom to continue to support the police with useful information to succeed.
