The Ondo State Police Command has arrested six men accused of posing as pastors and scamming residents of the Idanre community through staged “miracles,” officials said on Thursday.
The suspects, identified as Fadahunsi, Kolade, Tijani, Iyanuoluwa, Arijesulola, and Ademola were apprehended following an intelligence-led operation conducted on February 16, 2026, by the command’s tactical teams in collaboration with Community Safety Officers.
In a statement, Police Public Relations Officer Jimoh Kazeem said the suspects allegedly organized elaborate schemes, presenting themselves as spiritual leaders and promising divine solutions to financial, health, and personal challenges.
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“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,” Kazeem said.
The police explained that the group reportedly assigned specific roles to each member to create a convincing façade of legitimacy, exploiting the faith and vulnerabilities of residents to defraud them.
Authorities said the suspects remain in custody and would be charged in court once investigations are complete. The probe aims to determine the total number of victims, the financial scale of the fraud, and whether other accomplices remain at large.
“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.
The Ondo State Police Command warned residents to exercise caution and verify the credentials of individuals claiming spiritual authority.
“Members of the public are urged to exercise caution and due diligence, and to be wary of individuals who use religion, spirituality or claims of miracles as a cover for criminal activities,” the command advised.
