A 25-year-old tailor, Kowiu Oloyede, has admitted creating and sharing a fake TikTok video that falsely claimed bandits had invaded the Atan-Ota area of Ogun State.
Oloyede, who operates a tailoring shop in the community, was arrested by the Ogun State Police Command after the video circulated widely on social media and triggered panic among residents.
According to police authorities, the suspect was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
Speaking in a video interview released by the police, Oloyede explained that he created the content mainly to increase his social media following and promote his business.
He said he opened the TikTok account in January 2026 and got the idea after seeing several similar videos online using bandit-themed sounds.
The suspect revealed that he recorded the clip in a bush located behind his tailoring shop and used some young men around him to assist with the production.
Oloyede also admitted making another video where he appeared to be pleading with a Fulani man while pretending the man was a bandit. He later deleted the clip after realising it could create problems.
According to him, the first video significantly boosted his account’s visibility, increasing his followers from about 60 to over 1,000 and generating around 8,000 likes.
He further stated that some people encouraged him to continue creating such videos, making him believe the content could help him become popular online.
The Ogun State Police Command warned residents against spreading false or misleading information capable of causing fear and unrest in society. The command also stressed that anyone found using social media to circulate fake security-related content would face prosecution.
