‎Police arrest six ‘fake pastors’ over alleged miracle scam in Ondo

‎Akure, Nigeria — February 27, 2026: The Nigeria Police Force has arrested six men accused of posing as pastors and defrauding unsuspecting residents in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State through staged miracles and fake spiritual interventions.
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‎The suspects — identified as Fadahunsi, Kolade, Tijani, Iyanuoluwa, Arijesulola and Ademola — were detained following an intelligence-led operation on February 16, 2026, carried out by the Ondo State Police Command in partnership with Community Safety Officers.
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‎According to a police statement, the group allegedly organised a coordinated scheme in which they pretended to be religious leaders and claimed to perform miracles to win the trust of victims.
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‎They allegedly used these staged “miracles” as a pretext to exploit people’s faith, promising solutions to financial difficulties, health challenges and other personal problems before obtaining money under false pretences.
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‎The police said preliminary investigations suggest the syndicate operated with assigned roles to make the setup appear legitimate and structured.
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‎Officers are now working to determine the total number of victims, the full financial impact of the alleged scam and whether additional accomplices remain at large.
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‎All six suspects are currently in custody and are expected to be charged in court once investigations are completed.
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‎Law enforcement urged the public to be cautious and to verify claims of miraculous powers or spiritual interventions, warning that fraudsters may exploit religion or belief in supernatural solutions to defraud people.