A 15-year-old boy has been arrested by the police in Akwa Ibom State for allegedly stealing a church’s monthly tithe.

The teenager, an indigene of Idua Eket, was paraded yesterday at the State Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan-Abia in Uyo, the state capital.

He was alleged to have broken into the room of the Superintending Pastor of Mount Zion Church in Eket where he stole N5,000 belonging to the church.

The suspect claimed that a member of the church, Mitche Subday, instructed him to steal the money.

His words: “ The police arrested me because I stole church tithe.

“The name of the church is Mount Zion at Idua Eket. The person who attends the church asked me to go and bring the money.

“I want God to forgive me. I won’t steal again.

“The name of my school is Government Secondary School, QIC road, Eket and I am in J.S.S three.”

Also paraded by the police were suspected cultists.

According to the Commissioner of Police, Solomon Arase, the suspected cultists were arrested after assembling for cult initiation.

Arase gave their names as Aniekan Effiong, Solomon Udo, Christian Jeremiah, Udosoro Emmanuel, Anthony Williams, Iheanetu John, Michael Ike and Edidiong Eshiet.

The police chief explained that efforts had been intensified by the command to apprehend other members of the gang.

But the suspects denied the allegations. They said the police implicated them.