A 25-year-old fashion designer, Kowiu Oloyede, has admitted that he gained about 1,000 followers after posting a fake TikTok video claiming bandits had invaded the Atan-Ota community in Ogun State.

Oloyede was arrested by the Ogun State Police Command after the video went viral and triggered panic among residents.

According to the police, the content was misleading and capable of causing public unrest, leading to his arrest on Saturday, May 23, 2026, and subsequent transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

In an interview with police spokesperson DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the suspect confessed that he created the video purely to grow his social media account and was not aware of its legal implications.

He said he was inspired by similar content trends on TikTok and decided to film his own version using a bush area behind his tailoring shop.

Oloyede explained that he saw others using similar “bandit invasion” sounds online and believed it could help boost engagement on his page.

He added that before posting the video, he had only about 60 followers, but the content eventually gained over 8,000 likes and increased his followers to more than 1,000.

The suspect also revealed that he attempted another video in which he staged a scene involving a Fulani herder, but later deleted it after realising it was inappropriate.

The Ogun State Police Command condemned the act, warning residents against spreading false or unverified information capable of inciting fear or disturbing public peace.

It reiterated its commitment to prosecuting individuals who misuse social media to circulate fake news and misinformation.