A 25-year-old tailor in Ogun State, Kowiu Oloyede, has stated that he filmed a fake bandit invasion video of Ogun State and posted it on TikTok to grow his followers.

Oloyede, who runs a tailoring shop in the Atan-Ota community, was arrested on Saturday, May 23, 2026, by the Ogun State Police Command after the panic-triggering video went viral.

He has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

Police described the content as misleading and capable of causing public unrest.

In a video interview with state police spokesperson DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, Oloyede admitted he created the false content purely for social media growth.

“I am the owner of the account. I created it for my business in January 2026,” he said in a video posted by the command on Tuesday.

Asked what inspired the video, he said: “I didn’t hear infomation from anywhere. I was scrolling TikTok one day when I saw the bandit sound and I saw people usinng that sound. That is why I also use it to gain followers because the likes of Peller started somewhere. I don’t know if my way will open there, too.”

Oloyede said he shot the video in a bush behind his shop, explaining his location choice simply: “I saw many people online use the sound inside bush. Some use it in normal open place. I have bush at the back of my shop. That is why I use bush.”

He said some young men who lodged at his shop assisted him.

“They work somewhere and stay at my place whenever they come back. I accommodate them.”

After witnessing the first video’s reach, Oloyede attempted a follow-up, while this time kneeling before a Fulani herder while pretending the man was a bandit.

“When I see the first video did well, it gave me morale.

“There is one Fulani that came to charge at my shop… The Fulani refused when I talked to him about it. But I acted begging as he refused and the man was asking, ‘What is wrong with this man that is kneeling?’ My brother had recorded him as he was talking,” he said.

“I posted it, but deleted when I see that the video is not good.”

The first video, however, delivered the numbers he wanted.

“Before I had 60 followers, but after I have over 1,000 followers. The first video gave me 8,000 likes.”

An acquaintance’s encouragement only deepened his confusion about what he was doing.

“When I did the video, someone told me that is how God uplift someone… The person encouraged me to do more videos. I don’t even know if it is a good thing or bad.”

The Ogun State Police Command warned residents against spreading unverified information, particularly content capable of inciting fear or disrupting public peace, and reiterated its commitment to prosecuting those who use social media to spread falsehoods. (TRIBUNE)