Crime
Ondo Police Arrest Mother, Son Over Alleged Plan To Use 10-Year-Old Boy For Money Ritual
The suspects were apprehended following a tip-off from a concerned resident who alerted the police to a suspected ritual operation in the community.
Akure, Ondo State– A 53-year-old woman, simply identified as Maria, and her 28-year-old son, Adewale, have been arrested by the Ondo State Police Command over an alleged attempt to use a 10-year-old boy for money ritual activities in Ile-Oluji, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were apprehended following a tip-off from a concerned resident who alerted the police to a suspected ritual operation in the community.
Confirming the arrest in a statement on Saturday in Akure, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said operatives of the Command’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team carried out the operation on December 27.
According to him, the timely intervention of the police foiled the alleged ritual plan, leading to the rescue of the 10-year-old boy who was reportedly intended to be used for the ritual.
“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 the ritual, was successfully rescued,” Jimoh said.
He added that the victim has since been taken to a hospital for medical attention.
Preliminary investigations, the police spokesperson disclosed, revealed that Maria allegedly conspired with her son to engage the services of a herbalist to carry out the money ritual using the child.
“The suspects are currently in police custody, where they reportedly confessed to the crime. They will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” Jimoh stated.
The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Adebowale Lawal, commended the SWAT operatives for their swift response and professionalism, stressing the importance of intelligence-led policing in preventing crime.
Lawal reassured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, while warning parents—particularly mothers—against engaging in criminal and immoral activities.
He also cautioned parents to discourage their children from the “get-rich-quick” mindset and to instead instill the values of hard work, diligence, and integrity.
The police spokesperson urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station, noting that community cooperation remains vital to building a safer society.
