Police operatives in Osun State have arrested 13 suspects for alleged fraud, stealing and cultism.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, made this known on Monday while addressing journalists during a press conference in Osogbo.
Gotan said the arrests were part of recent efforts to combat crime and criminality across the state.
The CP said eight of the suspects were apprehended over alleged offences of obtaining money under false pretence and stealing, involving multiple victims and financial transactions.
He identified the suspects as 49-year-old Akinsoyinu Hellen, 22-year-old Salim Usman Abubakar, 35-year-old Gbadegesin Oyeyemi Moses, 23-year-old Imole Olanrewaju, 40-year-old Ojo Adetayo, 50-year-old Olanrewaju Dayo, 53-year-old Ogunleye Femi and 60-year-old Kerubu Oluwagbemi.
According to the police, the case involving Akinsoyinu Hellen began after a complainant was introduced to her under the claim that her son, based in the United States, regularly shipped vehicles to Nigeria.
The police said the suspect allegedly told the complainant that two trucks belonging to her son were awaiting clearance at a port and collected a total sum of N13.2 million under that pretence.
They added that investigations later revealed that the claims were fabricated and that the images of the trucks sent to the complainant had been downloaded from the internet.
Police stated that the suspect attempted to flee Ile-Ife but was apprehended on December 27, 2025, at about 2:00 a.m., after which she reportedly confessed to the offence.
In a related development, Ogunleye Femi and Kerubu Oluwagbemi were arrested over a separate fraud case involving N7 million allegedly obtained under the guise of executing a government contract.
Police said Ogunleye Femi admitted to the allegation, stating that he had been influenced by a promise from Kerubu Oluwagbemi to perform money rituals if he could raise 200,000 dollars in cash.
CP Gotan added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspects linked to the fraud cases who remain at large.
In another operation, five suspects identified as Amokeaja Bassit, Olatunde Segun, Adeyeye Suji, Babatunde Lekan and Olayinka Laide were arrested for alleged membership of an unlawful society following an attack in Adeti Area, Isida, Ilesa.
Police said the suspects, believed to be members of the Black Axe confraternity, were arrested by an anti-cultism patrol team after a reported attack on March 23, 2026.
An axe and suspected criminal charms were recovered upon arrest, while efforts were ongoing to track down fleeing members.
NAN
