The Ondo State Police Command, a law enforcement agency under the Nigeria Police Force in Ondo State, southwestern Nigeria, has announced the arrest of two individuals accused of attempting to use a child for an alleged ritual activity.
Okay News reports that the suspects, identified as Maria and Adewale, were apprehended in Ile-Oluji, a town in Ondo State that serves as the headquarters of Ile-Oluji/Oke Igbo Local Government Area.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday, 3 January 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State Police Command, Mr Abayomi Jimoh, who provided details of the operation that led to the arrests.
According to the statement, the suspects are a mother and her son who allegedly planned to use a 10-year-old boy for ritual purposes. The police spokesperson said the arrest followed credible intelligence received by operatives of the command.
“The command has recorded another notable success in its sustained efforts at crime prevention with the arrest of two suspects in connection with an attempted ritual activity in Ile-Oluji on 27 December 2025,” Jimoh stated.
He explained that operatives attached to the Special Weapons And Tactics Tactical Team acted on a tip-off from a concerned citizen who reported suspicious activity suggesting a planned ritual act in the community.
“The breakthrough followed actionable and credible intelligence leveraged by operatives of the Special Weapons And Tactics Tactical Team. Acting on a tip-off from a concerned citizen who reported a suspected ritual activity in Ile-Oluji, the operatives swiftly swung into action,” the statement read.
Jimoh further revealed that the operation led to the arrest of Maria, aged 53 years, and her son Adewale, aged 28 years, while the child allegedly intended to be used for the ritual was successfully rescued by the police.
“The operation led to the arrest of two suspects identified as Maria, female, 53 years, and Adewale, male, 28 years, while a 10-year-old boy who was allegedly intended to be used for a ritual was successfully rescued. Meanwhile, the victim has been taken to a hospital for medical attention,” he said.
Preliminary investigations, according to the police, revealed that the mother allegedly conspired with her son to engage the services of an herbalist in a plot to carry out a money ritual involving the rescued child.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that Maria conspired with her son, Adewale, to engage the services of an herbalist to use the victim for money ritual. The suspects are currently in police custody, where they reportedly confessed to the crime,” Jimoh added.
The Ondo State Police Command said the suspects would be formally charged to court after the conclusion of investigations, while assuring residents of its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
