On Thursday, the Ondo State Police Command reported the arrest of six individuals who allegedly pretended to be pastors and used staged "miracles" to deceive gullible inhabitants of the Idanre community in the state's Idanre Local Government Area. 

The accused were named as Fadahunsi, Kolade, Tijani, Iyanuoluwa, Arijesulola, and Ademola in a statement released by Jimoh Kazeem, the command's Police Public Relations Officer. 

According to the police, the arrests came after an intelligence-driven operation carried out on February 16, 2026, by Community Safety Officers and members of the command's tactical squads.

“On 16th February, 2026, operatives of the Command’s Tactical Teams, in collaboration with the Community Safety Officers, carried out a well-coordinated operation following credible information about the activities of a suspected fraud syndicate operating within Idanre and its environs,” the statement read.

“The operation led to the arrest of six suspects alleged to have organised and executed fraudulent schemes targeted at unsuspecting members of the public. Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects posed as pastors and religious leaders, staging fake miracles and spiritual interventions to gain the confidence and trust of their victims.”

In order to deceive the inhabitants through false pretenses and associated schemes, the suspects allegedly preyed on their faith and vulnerabilities by promising divine remedies to financial issues, health challenges, and other personal problems. 

The spokesperson went on to say that investigations revealed the suspects worked in concert, giving each member of the group a defined function to create what he called an organized and compelling façade of legitimacy.

“Further investigations are ongoing to ascertain the total number of victims, determine the financial magnitude of the fraud, and identify other collaborators who may still be at large,” the statement added.

According to the police, the suspects are still being held and will face charges in court after the investigations are finished. 

The directive cautioned locals against those who use religion, spirituality, or claims of miracles as a pretext for illegal activity and asked the people to apply caution and due diligence.

Source