A young tailor named Qawiyu has confessed that he fabricated and shared a staged video of bandits attack on social media in an attempt to increase his TikTok followers.

The incident, which was said to have sparked panic in Atan, Ogun State, resulted in his arrest after the video went viral online and falsely suggested there was bandit activity in the area.

The suspect, during interrogation at the police station, the suspect admitted that no actual attack took place and said he fabricated the story solely to gain online attention

“I did it because I saw people doing it to gain followers,” he said.

When asked why he singled out Atan Ota in the video, Qawiyu explained that people suggested different locations and that his main goal was simply to gain followers.

According to him, the Fulani man seen in the viral clip was not a bandit but a cattle herder who usually passed behind his shop with cows.

“He used to move with his cows in our area, just behind my shop. I told him we should use it to do content. He said he cannot do it, but I insisted. I told my apprentice to do the recording,” he explained.

Qawiyu disclosed that he made one recording on Monday and another on Wednesday, but deleted the second clip after noticing how fast the videos were spreading online.

“The moment I noticed it’s spreading, I deleted the second one,” he stated.