Police rescue 10-year-old boy, arrest mother, son over alleged ritual in Ondo

Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have rescued a 10-year-old boy and arrested two suspects, a mother and her son, over an alleged plan to use the child for ritual purposes.

The suspects, identified as Maria, 53, and her son, Adewale, 28, were apprehended in Ile-Oluji, the headquarters of the Ile-Oluji/Oke Igbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

In a statement issued on Saturday by SP Abayomi Jimoh, Police Public Relations Officer, the arrests were made on December 27, 2025, following credible intelligence received from members of the public.

According to Jimoh, operatives of the SWAT Tactical Team acted swiftly on a tip-off from a concerned resident who reported suspicious activities linked to a possible ritual plot in the area.

“The Ondo State Police Command recorded another significant success in its crime prevention efforts with the arrest of two suspects connected to an attempted ritual activity in Ile-Oluji,” Jimoh stated.

“The operation led to the arrest of Maria and Adewale, while a 10-year-old boy who was allegedly targeted for ritual purposes was safely rescued.

“The child has since been taken to a hospital for medical examination and care.”

According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly conspired to engage the services of a herbalist to carry out a money ritual involving the child.

The statement added that both suspects are currently in police custody and have allegedly made confessional statements, while investigations are ongoing.