The Ogun State Police Command has reportedly arrested a man accused of creating and circulating a fake bandit attack video on social media in an attempt to gain online followers.
According to reports by the counterinsurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the matter was brought to police attention on May 23 after a resident, Ayinla Sodiq of Obasanjo Ota, visited a police station alongside the suspect, identified as Qowiy Oloyede of Oriya Sokoto Road, Atan Ota.
The complainant allegedly accused Oloyede of producing and posting a misleading TikTok video that falsely claimed bandits had invaded the Atan Ota community, causing fear among residents.
Police reports indicated that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) questioned the suspect, who reportedly admitted to staging the incident to attract attention and increase his social media following.
In a video that later went viral online, the suspect was seen kneeling while being questioned by an individual dressed in a police uniform. During the interrogation, he allegedly confessed that the content was fabricated solely to gain popularity on social media.
The suspect also explained that the herder featured in the clip was a cattle rearer who regularly grazed cows near his shop. According to him, the man initially declined to appear in the video but later agreed.
Oloyede further claimed he could neither read nor write, stating that his apprentice helped write the caption attached to the video before it was uploaded online. He reportedly admitted to creating only two similar videos, one shared on Monday and another on Wednesday.
Authorities were said to have recovered photos and video materials connected to the alleged false publication during preliminary investigations.
Reports added that the suspect may be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) in Abeokuta for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the police have cautioned residents against sharing unverified information capable of triggering panic or disrupting public order, urging social media users to confirm the accuracy of information before reposting content.
