The police in Akwa Ibom have arrested a 13-year-old pupil suspected to have threatened the schoolmates with a pistol in St. Paul Primary School Ikot Ibiok in Eket LGA.

Police commissioner Baba Azare disclosed this in a press briefing in Uyo on Wednesday.

Mr Azare said the operatives of the command acted on credible information on January 30 at about 8:00 a.m. that the boy was going about with a pistol in the school, threatening to shoot other pupils.

“The operatives of the command immediately swung into action and arrested the suspect and recovered a locally made pistol,” said the police boss. “On interrogation, the suspect confessed that he has been with the said gun since Nov. 2024 and that he got it from a ward in his father’s bedroom.’’

The police commissioner added that the suspect’s father had been arrested, and an investigation had commenced.

Mr Azare also disclosed that the command arrested two young girls who conspired and stole a child in Obong Itam, Itu LGA, in June 2024 and sold it for N200,000 to someone in Cross River.

He said the suspects confessed to the crime and used the proceeds to purchase a refrigerator, television and fan. He explained that the items had been recovered from them and an investigation was ongoing to arrest the buyer of the child.

In another development, the CP said that two young girls reported a woman who attempted to traffic them to some men in Cross River for baby-making, selling the expected babies and sharing the proceeds.

He said that based on the complaint on February 1 at about 8:00 a.m., the operatives of the command swung into action and arrested Gift Essien Tommy and Peace Ekanem while the investigation was ongoing.

Mr Azare also disclosed that on February 1, a woman from Afaha Offiong village in Nsit Ibom reported that her nine-year-old daughter she sent on an errand on January 31 at about 4:00 p.m. was defiled.

According to him, one Aniefiok Edem, 60, dragged the nine-year-old girl into the bush, removed her clothes, had carnal knowledge of her and later gave her N200.

The police commissioner said the suspect would be charged in court as soon as investigations were concluded.

Mr Azare added that the command also apprehended other suspects who were involved in cult related activities, unlawful possession of fire and illicit drugs, among others.

He said the command would not relent in its efforts to rid the state of all crimes and criminalities.

The police commissioner urged residents to continue to support the police with useful information to succeed.

(NAN)