Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have apprehended six persons posing as Christian clerics for allegedly orchestrating fraudulent miracle sessions to swindle unsuspecting members of the public in Idanre, the headquarters of Idanre Local Government Area of the state. The suspects, whose names were given as Fadahunsi, Kolade, Tijani, Iyanuoluwa, Arijesulola, and Ademola, were said to have specialised in exploiting the spiritual inclinations and financial vulnerabilities of their victims through staged divine interventions. Confirming the arrest on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state command, Abayomi Jimoh, stated that the breakthrough followed a coordinated intelligence-driven operation carried out by the command’s tactical teams in conjunction with Community Safety Officers (CSOs). According to Jimoh, the suspects operated a structured syndicate where members were assigned specific roles to create a convincing facade of legitimacy and spiritual potency. The police spokesperson further explained that the “mock pastors” targeted individuals seeking solutions to health challenges, financial difficulties, and other personal problems, using emotional manipulation to extort large sums of money from them. “It was gathered that the suspects operated in a coordinated manner, assigning specific roles to members of the group to create a convincing and structured facade of legitimacy,” Jimoh said. He added that the suspects had been using their base in Idanre as a hub for their nefarious activities before the law caught up with them. While noting that further investigation is ongoing to determine the financial magnitude of the fraud, the PPRO urged members of the public to be wary of individuals who use religion as a cover for criminal activities. He assured that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded, while efforts are being intensified to arrest other collaborators who may still be at large. Post navigation Court Issues Bench Warrant Against Ibadan Businessman Over ₦3.6m Fraud Allegations One Dead, Seven Arrested as Lagos-Badagry Expressway Becomes War Zone
