A 25-year-old man arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly creating and spreading fake bandit attack videos on TikTok has confessed that he staged the clips simply to gain popularity and followers online.
The suspect, identified as Kowiu Oloyede, admitted during a police interview that he was inspired by the success of popular Nigerian streamer Habeeb Hamzat, widely known online as “Peller.”
In a video interview shared by the Ogun State Police Command on X, Oloyede explained that he created the TikTok account in January 2026 mainly to promote his fashion business.
“My name is Kowiu Oloyede. I am from Ibaragun in Ogun State. I am 25 years old and a fashion designer,” he said.
According to him, the idea came while he was working at his tailoring shop and scrolling through TikTok, where he discovered a trending “bandit” audio used by several creators.
“I saw that other people were using the sound too, so I decided to use it,” he explained.
Oloyede admitted that his main goal was to become famous online and increase his followers.
“I used it so I could get followers because people like Peller started from somewhere. Maybe God can help me from there. That was what I wanted to do, not knowing it would boomerang,” he said.
The suspect revealed that he chose a bush behind his shop as the filming location because many similar videos online were shot in forests or isolated areas. Some boys living with him reportedly helped him record the clips.
He said the first video quickly attracted attention, with many viewers asking whether bandits had truly invaded the area. Although he claimed he later clarified in the comment section that the clip was only content creation, he went on to make another controversial video involving a Fulani herder and his cattle.
According to Oloyede, he approached the herder and persuaded him to appear in the recording, while another person secretly filmed the interaction.
Before the videos went viral, Oloyede said he had only about 60 followers on TikTok. Within a short time after posting the clips, his follower count reportedly jumped past 1,000.
“I was excited by the attention,” he admitted, adding that he did not realise the videos were creating fear and panic among residents.
The Ogun State Police Command had earlier confirmed his arrest following complaints that misleading videos falsely claimed bandits had invaded the Atan Ota area of Ogun State.
Police authorities stated that evidence connected to the fake content was recovered during preliminary investigations, and the suspect may be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) in Abeokuta for further investigation.
The command also warned content creators against spreading false information capable of causing public panic, stressing that social media content must remain within the law.
Authorities further reassured residents that security agencies in Ogun State remain active in combating kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.
Man… the social media era is wild. One viral sound, one bad decision, and suddenly the police are introducing you to national television instead of TikTok fame. Fame is sweet, but panic-driven clout? That one bills differently.
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