The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 53-year-old woman and her 28-year-old son over an alleged conspiracy to carry out money ritual activities in Ile-Oluji, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were arrested following actionable intelligence received by operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, the police said on Saturday.
According to the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the attempted ritual was foiled on December 27 after a concerned resident alerted security operatives to suspicious activities in the area.
“The operation led to the arrest of two suspects identified as Maria (female, 53) and Adewale (male, 28),” Jimoh said in a statement issued in Akure.
He disclosed that a 10-year-old boy, allegedly intended to be used for the ritual, was successfully rescued during the operation and immediately taken to a hospital for medical attention.
Preliminary investigations, the police said, revealed that the woman allegedly conspired with her son to engage the services of a herbalist to use the child for money ritual purposes.
The suspects are currently in police custody and have reportedly confessed to the crime. They will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Commending the operatives for their swift response, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, underscored the importance of intelligence-led policing in preventing crime.
Lawal reassured residents of the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across Ondo State, while cautioning parents—particularly mothers—against engaging in criminal acts.
He also warned against the growing “get-rich-quick” syndrome, urging parents to instil values of hard work, diligence and integrity in their children as the pathway to genuine success.
