The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested one Gabriel Okon Ekpiri, a native of Ekit Itam Akpan Obong community in Itu Local Government Area of the state, for selling his nine-year-old son for the sum of N400,000.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday night in Uyo, the state capital, said the suspect was arrested by the Quick Intervention Squad of the Command.

Macdon said the suspect, during interrogation, confessed to the crime while blaming the act on the devil and economic hardship being experienced in the country.

The statement read in part, “The Commissioner of Police Akwa Ibom State, Olatoye Durusinmi, has condemned the action of one Gabriel Okon Ekpiri of Ekit Itam Akpan Obong in Itu Local Government Area, who sold his nine year old son for N400,000.

“The CP noted that the act was barbaric and totally unacceptable, and the suspect who was arrested by the quick Intervention Squad of the Command has confessed to the crime while blaming the devil and economic hardship for his actions.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police has decorated two Deputy Commissioners of Police, DCP Baba Lawan Audu, Area Commander, Eket Area Command, and DCP Lawal Isa Mani, Department of Operations.

The CP, while conveying the hearty congratulations of the Acting Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun to the officers, charged them to double their productivity capacity while playing their deputising roles.