Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a man accused of staging and circulating a fake bandit attack video on social media in an attempt to gain followers on TikTok.
According to reports, the incident was brought to the attention of the police on May 23 after Ayinla Sodiq of Obasanjo Ota visited a police station with the suspect, identified as Qowiy Oloyede of Oriya Sokoto Road, Atan Ota.
The complainant alleged that the suspect created and shared a misleading TikTok video falsely claiming that bandits had invaded the Atan Ota community.
A counterinsurgency publication, Zagazola Makama, reported that the divisional police officer immediately questioned the suspect, who allegedly confessed to fabricating the video to attract followers and gain attention online.
In a viral clip circulating on social media, the suspect was seen kneeling while being interrogated by a man dressed in police uniform.
The suspect admitted in the video that he created the fake bandit attack content to gain followers and trend on social media platforms.
He also explained that the herder featured in the video was a cattle rearer who usually grazed cows behind his shop and had initially refused to participate before later agreeing.
According to the suspect, he could neither read nor write, claiming that his apprentice wrote the caption attached to the video before it was uploaded online.
He further disclosed that he had produced and posted only two similar videos, one on Monday and another on Wednesday.
Police authorities reportedly recovered photographs and video evidence connected to the fake publication during preliminary investigations.
The suspect is expected to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
Police also warned residents against spreading false information capable of causing panic and public disorder, urging members of the public to verify information before sharing content on social media platforms.
