Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Osun State have arrested 13 suspects over alleged offences bordering on fraud, stealing and cultism.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, disclosed this on Monday while addressing journalists during a press conference in Osogbo.
Gotan said the arrests were part of ongoing efforts to curb crime and criminality across the state.
According to him, eight of the suspects were apprehended for alleged offences of obtaining money under false pretence and stealing, involving multiple victims and financial transactions.
He identified the suspects as Akinsoyinu Hellen (49), Salim Usman Abubakar (22), Gbadegesin Oyeyemi Moses (35), Imole Olanrewaju (23), Ojo Adetayo (40), Olanrewaju Dayo (50), Ogunleye Femi (53) and Kerubu Oluwagbemi (60).
The police explained that the case involving Akinsoyinu Hellen followed a complaint that she allegedly claimed her son, based in the United States, shipped vehicles to Nigeria and had two trucks awaiting clearance at a port.
She reportedly collected a total of N13.2 million from the victim under the pretext, but investigations later revealed that the claims were false, with images of the trucks sourced from the internet.
Police said the suspect attempted to flee Ile-Ife but was arrested on December 27, 2025, at about 2:00 a.m., and subsequently confessed to the offence.
In a related case, Ogunleye Femi and Kerubu Oluwagbemi were arrested over an alleged N7 million fraud involving a purported government contract.
According to the police, Ogunleye confessed to the crime, claiming he was influenced by a promise from Oluwagbemi to perform money rituals if he could raise $200,000.
The commissioner added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects linked to the fraud cases who are currently at large.
In a separate operation, five suspects—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 apprehended by an anti-cultism patrol team after a reported attack on March 23, 2026.
Items recovered from them include an axe and suspected charms, while efforts are ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the group.
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