AKURE, Nigeria — The Police Command in Ondo State said it had arrested six men described as pastors in connection with an alleged fraudulent miracle scheme in Idanre, in Idanre Local Government Area.
DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the command’s spokesperson, said in a statement on Thursday, February 26, 2026, that the suspects were identified as Fadahunsi, Kolade, Tijani, Iyanuoluwa, Arijesulola and Ademola.
Jimoh said operatives from the command’s tactical units, working with Community Safety Officers, carried out what he described as an intelligence-led operation on February 16 in Idanre and surrounding areas.
According to the police, the arrests followed information about a group suspected of defrauding members of the public.
“The operation led to the arrest of six suspects alleged to have organised and executed fraudulent schemes targeted at unsuspecting members of the public,” Jimoh said.
He said preliminary findings indicated that the men presented themselves as pastors and religious leaders and conducted staged miracles and spiritual interventions in order to gain the trust of victims.
Jimoh said the suspects allegedly took advantage of people’s faith and personal challenges by offering what he described as divine solutions to financial and health problems.
“The suspects only defrauded their victims through various forms of obtaining by false pretence and related scams,” he said.
He added that investigators had learned during questioning that the group assigned different roles to members in order to create what he called a structured appearance of legitimacy.
Police said inquiries were continuing to determine how many people may have been affected, the total amount of money involved and whether others were connected to the alleged scheme.
“All suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation,” Jimoh said.
The police urged residents to exercise caution and to verify claims before making financial commitments.
“Residents are advised to verify claims, be wary of suspicious financial demands, and promptly report any dubious gatherings or activities to the nearest police station,” he said.
Jimoh said the command remained committed to addressing criminal activity in the state through intelligence gathering and collaboration with communities.
