Kowiu Oloyede, a 25-year-old fashion designer known in his community, was detained after he posted a fabricated TikTok video falsely claiming that bandits had taken over the Atan-Ota area in Ogun State. The video, which rapidly spread online and caused widespread panic, earned him roughly 1,000 new followers, a detail he claimed to be unaware of the video’s illegality.

Oloyede, who runs a tailoring shop locally, was taken into custody on Saturday, May 23, 2026, by the state police. Authorities labelled the footage as deceptive and potentially disruptive to public order.

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

In a video interview with DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the police spokesperson, Oloyede confessed that he created the hoax solely to boost his social media profile.

“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.

When asked about the inspiration behind the video, the suspect said, “I didn’t hear information from anywhere. I was scrolling TikTok one day when I saw the bandit sound, and I saw people using 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 mentioned he recorded the video in a bush behind his shop.

“I saw many people online use the sound inside the bush. Some use it in a normal open place. I have a bush at the back of my shop. That is why I use bush.”

He mentioned being helped by some young men who occasionally visit his shop.

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

The suspect also attempted a follow-up video in which he was seen kneeling and begging a Fulani herder, while pretending the man was a bandit.

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

“There is one Fulani who 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 it when I saw that the video was not good.”

Oloyede disclosed that he gained significant traction from the first video.

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

He said he also received encouragement from an acquaintance after the initial post.

“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.”