The Ondo State Police Command has 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 Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

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

According to the police, operatives of the SWAT Tactical Team acted swiftly on a tip-off from a concerned resident who reported suspicious activities suggesting 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.”

Preliminary investigations, the police said, 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.