The Ogun State Police Command has reportedly arrested a man for allegedly staging and circulating a fake bandit attack video on social media in a bid to gain followers online.

According to counterinsurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the incident was reported on May 23 after one Ayinla Sodiq of Obasanjo Ota brought the suspect, identified as Qowiy Oloyede of Oriya Sokoto Road, Atan Ota, to a police station.

The complainant accused the suspect of producing and sharing a misleading TikTok video falsely claiming that bandits had invaded the Atan Ota community in Ogun State.

The publication reported that the divisional police officer (DPO) questioned the suspect, who allegedly admitted to fabricating the video to increase his social media following.

In a viral clip circulating online, the suspect was seen kneeling while being questioned by an individual dressed in a police uniform.

In the video, the suspect allegedly confessed that the content was staged to attract attention and boost engagement online.

He reportedly stated that the herder featured in the video was a cattle rearer who usually grazed cattle behind his shop and had initially declined to participate before later agreeing.

The suspect also claimed he could neither read nor write, adding that his apprentice wrote the caption attached to the video before it was uploaded online.

He further said he had produced only two similar videos, one posted on Monday and another on Wednesday.

Police authorities were said to have recovered photographs and video materials linked to the alleged false publication during preliminary investigations.

According to the report, the suspect is expected to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Abeokuta, for further investigation.

The police also warned residents against circulating false information capable of causing panic or public disorder, urging the public to verify information before sharing content on social media.