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The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Qawiyu Oloyede for allegedly circulating a fabricated video of a bandit attack on social media, in what authorities claim was an attempt to cause public panic and attract attention online.
The suspect, a tailor residing on Sokoto Road in Atan-Ota, was arrested after the video, which falsely portrayed an invasion by bandits, went viral on several social media platforms, triggering anxiety among residents.
Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the footage was deliberately staged to mislead the public and create a false impression of insecurity in the state.
In a video of his interrogation later surfaced online, Oloyede admitted making up the incident, saying the act was motivated by a desire to increase his social media following.
“I created the fake bandit attack and posted it on social media to gain followers,” he confessed.
He further explained that a local shepherd, who usually grazes cattle behind his shop, was unknowingly featured in the staged video, adding that the shepherd had also initially refused participation.
Oloyede also claimed that illiteracy played a role in the way the content was presented, stating that he could neither read nor write and that his apprentice assisted him in writing the accompanying captions.
“I can’t read or write. I didn’t go to school. It was my apprentice who wrote the message accompanying the video,” he said, adding that he had produced similar clips on two occasions earlier in the week.
Confirming the arrest, the spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the suspect has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
According to him, the command considers the dissemination of false security-related content to be a serious crime that can increase tension and undermine public trust.
“The suspect is from SCID,” Babaseyi said.
Security analysts have repeatedly warned that circulating false information about attacks or emergencies can trigger unnecessary fears, disturb community peace and strain security response systems.
Police have urged the public to check sensitive information before sharing it online, warning that those responsible for producing fake news that threaten public order will be prosecuted.
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