Police Nab Six ‘Pastors’ Over Alleged Fake Miracle Scam

Police Nab Six ‘Pastors’ Over Alleged Fake Miracle Scam

The Nigeria Police Force in Ondo State has arrested six men accused of posing as pastors and staging fake miracles to defraud residents of Idanre community in Idanre Local Government Area.

The suspects, identified as Fadahunsi, Kolade, Tijani, Iyanuoluwa, Arijesulola and Ademola, were apprehended during a coordinated operation carried out by the Command’s tactical teams.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Jimoh Kazeem, said the arrests followed credible intelligence about the activities of a suspected fraud syndicate operating within Idanre and surrounding areas.

“On February 16, 2026, operatives of the Command’s Tactical Teams, in collaboration with Community Safety Officers, carried out a well-coordinated, intelligence-driven operation following credible information about the activities of a suspected fraud syndicate operating in Idanre and its environs,” the statement read.

According to the police, preliminary findings indicate that the suspects allegedly presented themselves as religious leaders and organised staged miracles and spiritual interventions to win the confidence of unsuspecting members of the public.

“They allegedly exploited the faith, emotions, and vulnerabilities of individuals by promising divine solutions to financial difficulties, health challenges, and other personal problems, only to defraud them through various forms of obtaining by false pretence and related scams,” Kazeem stated.

The police said the group operated in a structured manner, with members assigned specific roles to create the impression of legitimacy and coordination during their activities.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the total number of victims, the financial scale of the alleged fraud and whether other accomplices are still at large.

“All the suspects are currently in police custody and will soon be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation,” the police spokesman added.

The Command urged residents to remain vigilant and to exercise caution against individuals who exploit religion or claim miraculous powers as a cover for criminal acts.