The state capital of Uyo, where the command’s public relations officer, Odiko Macdon, made the announcement, said the suspect was apprehended by the command’s Quick Intervention Squad.

According to Macdon, the suspect confessed to the crime while being questioned and laid the blame for it on the devil and the nation’s economic woes.

The statement said, in part, that Olatoye Durusinmi, the police commissioner of Akwa Ibom State, had denounced Gabriel Okon Ekpiri’s decision to sell his nine-year-old kid for N400,000.

The suspect, who was apprehended by the Command’s swift intervention squad, admitted to the crime while blaming the devil and financial difficulty for his conduct, and the CP observed that the deed was barbarous and absolutely unacceptable.

The two Deputy Commissioners of Police, DCP Lawal Isa Mani, Department of Operations, and DCP Baba Lawan Audu, Area Commander, Eket Area Command, have both received awards from the Police Commissioner.

The CP congratulated the officers warmly on behalf of Olukayode Egbetokun, the acting inspector general of police, and tasked them with doubling their production capacity while performing their deputizing duties.

In a separate interview with journalists, the delighted senior officers expressed their gratitude to the Police Service Commission and Inspector General of Police for considering them deserving of promotions as well as their commitment to the Command.