Crime
POLICE ARREST SIX MEN FOR POSING AS PASTORS, STAGING FAKE MIRACLES TO DEFRAUD RESIDENTS IN ONDO
The police have arrested six men accused of posing as pastors and staging fake miracles to defraud residents of Idanre community in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State. The suspects were identified as Fadahunsi, Kolade, Tijani, Iyanuoluwa, Arijesulola and Ademola.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Kazeem, said the arrests were made on February 16, 2026, by operatives of the Command’s Tactical Teams working in collaboration with Community Safety Officers. Kazeem explained that the suspects were apprehended following what the police described as an intelligence-led operation targeting a suspected fraud syndicate operating within Idanre and surrounding areas.
According to Kazeem, the suspects allegedly organised and executed fraudulent schemes by disguising themselves as religious leaders and exploiting the faith of unsuspecting members of the public. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects posed as pastors and religious leaders, staging fake miracles and spiritual interventions to gain the confidence and trust of their victims.
The police said the group allegedly promised divine solutions to financial hardship, health challenges and other personal problems, only to obtain money and valuables from victims under false pretences. Kazeem noted that investigators further disclosed that the suspects reportedly operated in a coordinated structure, assigning specific roles among themselves to project legitimacy and reinforce the illusion of spiritual authority.
The Command said efforts are ongoing to determine the total number of victims, assess the financial scale of the alleged fraud and track down possible accomplices who may still be at large. Kazeem added that all the suspects are currently in police custody and will soon be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
The police warned residents to exercise caution and avoid individuals who use religion or claims of miraculous powers as a cover for criminal activities.
Operatives of the Ekeki Division of the Nigeria Police Force in Bayelsa State have arrested a pastor and his wife over allegations of sexual abuse involving a 13-year-old girl in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, CP Iyamah Edebor, confirmed the development on Monday, noting that the matter has been transferred to the Gender Unit at the State Police Headquarters for detailed investigation and appropriate legal action.
According to reports, the arrest was effected during a church service on Sunday, which caused concern among members of the congregation.
The pastor was said to have initially left the premises but later reported himself to the police after his wife was taken into custody.
Sources familiar with the case said the minor, whose identity is being protected, is related to the pastor’s wife. The allegations involve incidents said to have occurred both within the church premises and at the pastor’s residence.
The girl reportedly informed her mother after noticing changes in her health. The mother subsequently confronted the couple before reporting the matter to the police.
It was also gathered that the mother reached out to a civil society organisation, the National Association of Women Against Gender-Based Violence, led by Barr. Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry, to seek further support.
Police authorities have assured the public that the case will be handled with sensitivity and in line with due process, especially given the age of the complainant.
Investigations are ongoing.
What began as a routine traffic stop in Lagos exploded into a major crime breakthrough as the Federal Road Safety Corps intercepted a stolen vehicle and exposed a wanted suspect, all through standard patrol enforcement backed by cutting-edge digital intelligence.
In a dramatic turn of events on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at about 5:11 p.m., operatives at the RS2.1114 Isolo Unit Command flagged down an ash-coloured Toyota Sienna bearing registration number LSD438GK for Vehicle Licence Violation. The driver failed to produce valid documentation on demand. By the book, the vehicle was impounded. But what officers uncovered moments later sent shockwaves through the command.
Subsequent verification revealed that the Sienna had been declared stolen and the driver behind the wheel was already a wanted man. In a stunning follow-up on Monday, officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Ajao Division, handed the suspect over in handcuffs to the FRSC Command for further necessary action, sealing what authorities have described as a textbook case of enforcement-driven intelligence success.
What appeared to be a minor documentation offence quickly snowballed into a significant anti-crime breakthrough, underscoring the Corps sharpened operational intelligence and relentless patrol vigilance. The recovery adds to the growing list of stolen vehicles intercepted nationwide through the deployment of the National Vehicle Identification Scheme, a digital verification and traceability framework that has become a nightmare for car theft syndicates.
Through NVIS, stolen vehicles are flagged, tracked, and exposed in real time, tightening the noose on criminals who manipulate vehicle identities and exploit registration loopholes. Security analysts say the system has not only strengthened inter-agency collaboration but has also drastically curtailed organised auto theft rings operating across state lines.
Reaffirming the Corps zero-tolerance stance, FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, applauded the recovery team for its vigilance and professionalism. He declared that road enforcement goes beyond traffic compliance, stressing that it is a critical layer of national security and crime prevention.
The Corps reiterated its resolve to deploy technology, intelligence gathering, and strategic partnerships to safeguard lives and property on Nigerian roads. Motorists have been strongly advised to ensure proper documentation at all times and to cooperate fully with patrol operatives during routine checks, warning that what seems like a simple stop could unearth serious criminal activity.
With another stolen vehicle off the streets and a wanted suspect in custody, the message from the FRSC is loud and unmistakable: the roads are no longer safe havens for criminals.
The Department of State Services has arrested a suspect, Udeme Sunday Stephen, over his alleged involvement in the attack on the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and several leaders of the African Democratic Congress in Benin City, Edo State. According to a report, the suspect was apprehended following what security sources described as a detailed and discreet investigation by the secret police.
Earlier reports say that Obi and other party officials were attacked last Tuesday at the Benin residence of former Edo State governor and ADC chieftain, John Odigie-Oyegun. The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, said the attack happened shortly after the delegation returned from the ADC secretariat, where they had officially received the Labour Partys 2023 governorship candidate in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, into the party.
Further details are expected as investigations continue.