The Ondo State Police Command has rescued a 10-year-old boy and arrested a woman and her adult son over an alleged plot to use the child for ritual purposes.

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

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abayomi Jimoh, the arrests followed credible intelligence received from concerned members of the public on December 27, 2025.

Jimoh explained that operatives of the SWAT Tactical Team acted swiftly on a tip-off from a resident who reported suspicious movements and activities suggesting a possible ritual plan in the area.

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

He added that the operation led to the safe rescue of the 10-year-old boy, who was allegedly targeted for the ritual.

“The child has been taken to a hospital for medical examination and necessary care,” the police spokesperson stated.

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

Both suspects are currently in police custody and are said to have made confessional statements, while investigations into the matter are ongoing.