Police Arrest Tailor for ‘Fake Bandit Attack’ Video on TikTok 

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a tailor, Qowiy Oloyede, for allegedly staging a fake bandit attack video on TikTok to gain followers, as authorities warn that offenders will face prosecution under the Cybercrimes Act.

A Nigerian man has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly fabricating and circulating a false video that claimed armed bandits had invaded the Atan Ota community in Ogun State. The suspect, identified as Qowiy Oloyede (also reported in some sources as Kowi Oloyede), is a tailor residing on Oriya Sokoto Road, Atan Ota.

The arrest was made on May 23, 2026, following a complaint lodged by one Ayinla Sodiq of Obasanjo Ota, who accused Oloyede of creating and sharing a misleading video designed to cause public panic. According to reports from counterinsurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) immediately interrogated the suspect, who allegedly admitted to fabricating the entire incident solely to gain TikTok followers and boost online engagement.

A viral video circulating online shows the suspect kneeling before a police officer as he confessed to orchestrating the fake attack. Oloyede disclosed that the “herder” featured in his video as an attacker was actually a local cattle rearer who regularly grazes cows behind his shop. According to the suspect, the herdsman initially declined to participate in the staged clip before eventually agreeing.

During questioning, Oloyede made several startling revelations. Claiming he could neither read nor write, he stated that he instructed his apprentice to draft the alarming captions that accompanied the video when it was posted online. He further revealed that this was not an isolated incident, admitting that he had produced and posted two similar fake attack videos earlier in the week—one on Monday and another on Wednesday.

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Police operatives have successfully recovered photographic and video evidence directly linked to the fabricated publications. Authorities have indicated that Oloyede is expected to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) in Abeokuta for a more thorough investigation and possible prosecution.

The Police Command has issued a strong warning to residents and content creators against spreading false security information, stating that those found guilty of circulating fake news will face prosecution under the Cybercrimes Act. They stressed that such actions are capable of inciting severe public panic and disrupting public order, urging citizens to rigorously verify sensitive information before amplifying it on social media platforms.

This incident is part of a disturbing trend of content creators staging fake security incidents for social media attention. In a similar case, the Edo State Police Command previously arraigned a 24-year-old TikToker, Osarobo Omoyemen, popularly known as “Madam Oil Rice,” for fabricating a kidnapping story to gain followers. Omoyemen had falsely claimed she was kidnapped along Upper Sakponba Road in Benin City, rescued by police, and detained at a police station where N10,000 was allegedly collected as bail. She later confessed that the entire story was staged solely to generate online content.

The FCT Police Command has also dealt with a similar case. In April 2026, the command arrested one Pam Joshua, a 24-year-old resident of Abuja, for deliberately fabricating a video using gunshot sounds and footage sourced from TikTok, falsely presenting it as an ongoing terrorist attack in the nation’s capital. The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, stated that the suspect admitted to creating the fake content just to get followers on TikTok, warning content creators that “the police have advanced” and will arrest anyone posting false videos capable of causing panic.

Security experts have repeatedly raised concerns over the growing trend of fake security alerts and misinformation on social media platforms, warning that such actions could trigger unnecessary panic and undermine public confidence in security agencies. In one notable instance, a content creator identified as “Za Baba” was flagged by fact-checkers for producing a staged video mocking Nigerian soldiers as weak while glorifying bandits as “warriors,” a case that Zagazola Makama described as “reckless amplification of enemy narratives.”

Authorities have made it clear that these arrests serve as a deterrent to others who may attempt to misuse social media to create panic or disrupt public peace. The Police Command has urged the public to verify information before sharing on social media platforms, emphasizing that misinformation capable of inciting fear and public disorder will not be tolerated.

Police Arrest Tailor for ‘Fake Bandit Attack’ Video on TikTok 

Troops Rescue 92 Kidnapped Civilians, Defuse 3 IEDs in Borno

Maiduguri, Nigeria – The military high command has announced that troops of the Joint Task Force (North-East) Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have successfully rescued 92 kidnapped civilians and foiled an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) ambush mounted by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists during a swift rescue operation along the Buratai-Kamuya road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State . The operation, executed on Saturday, May 23, 2026, demonstrated the military’s enhanced surveillance capability and combat readiness in the ongoing fight against insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East region.

According to a statement issued by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters, Joint Task Force (North-East) Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the operation followed the detection of terrorists forcibly herding civilians and vehicles off the road into surrounding bushes. The military explained that at approximately 11:22 am, vigilant troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion deployed in Dutse Kura identified the movement of the terrorists through surveillance systems and immediately activated a Quick Reaction Force . Reinforcement troops from the 27 Task Force Brigade Garrison were also mobilized to support the rescue effort, ensuring that sufficient manpower was deployed to overwhelm the terrorist group.

The troops reportedly pursued the terrorists towards the Mangari-Dora general area, engaging them in a fierce firefight that forced the terrorists to abandon their captives and flee in disarray. The military confirmed that all 92 kidnapped victims, comprising 52 males, 33 females, and seven children, were rescued alongside eight vehicles recovered during the operation. The successful rescue came as a significant blow to the terrorist network, which has increasingly resorted to highway abductions as a tactic to disrupt civilian movement and generate revenue through ransom demands.

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As the fleeing terrorists attempted to slow down the advancing troops and prevent the rescue of their captives, they planted three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along the Bula Zarma-Mangari axis in what was described as a calculated ambush attempt. However, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team of Operation Hadin Kai promptly responded to the threat, detecting and safely detonating all three devices before they could cause any harm. The successful clearance of the IEDs enabled troops to continue their pursuit for approximately five kilometers beyond the Mangari area , demonstrating the military’s ability to overcome terrorist obstacles in real-time.

The military confirmed that subsequent search operations conducted across the area verified that the terrorists had abandoned their captives, vehicles, and operational objectives before fleeing in confusion. Notably, Operation Hadin Kai troops recorded no personnel or equipment casualties throughout the entire rescue operation, a testament to the professionalism and tactical superiority of the Nigerian military forces involved. The rescued civilians were immediately consolidated, provided with welfare support including food, water, and medical attention, and escorted safely to Damaturu, where they were released to continue their journey.

The military noted that the successful operation further demonstrated the operational reach, surveillance capability, and combat readiness of Operation Hadin Kai. The military high command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians and denying terrorists freedom of action across the North-East Theatre , issuing a stern warning to terrorist groups that attempts to kidnap or intimidate civilians will be met with “swift and overwhelming force.”

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This successful rescue operation comes amid intensified military offensives against terrorist groups in Borno State. Between May 15 and 21, 2026, troops neutralized terrorists during clearance operations in Gwoza Local Government Area and arrested suspected collaborators involved in insurgent logistics. Several terrorists and their family members have also surrendered to troops due to sustained operational pressure, indicating that the military’s strategy of continuous offensives is yielding results.

In a separate operation along the Ngoshe–Amuda axis in Gwoza Local Government Area, troops recently rescued four abducted persons, including a three-year-old child, who had been kidnapped during an attack on the Ngoshe community on March 3, 2026. So far, a total of 65 abducted persons have been rescued in ongoing operations across the theatre, highlighting the military’s sustained focus on hostage rescue as a core component of its counter-insurgency strategy.

Additionally, on May 23, 2026, troops of the 153 Task Force Battalion and allied forces repelled an attack by suspected terrorists who attempted to infiltrate a military position in Kirawa town along the Nigeria-Cameroon border. At least 12 suspected terrorists were killed in the ensuing gunfight, and troops recovered weapons including AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and a machine gun. The successful border defense operation further underscores the military’s ability to secure Nigeria’s international boundaries against terrorist incursions.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria have intensified ongoing military operations across the country, recording significant successes against terrorists, kidnappers, gunrunners, and other criminal elements. Under Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East, troops continue to dismantle insurgent camps, intercept logistics supply routes, recover weapons, and rescue kidnapped victims. The military has urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information on suspicious activities or objects to security agencies, emphasizing that community collaboration remains essential in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.

As of May 25, 2026, Operation Hadin Kai maintains its commitment to restoring peace, security, and economic stability in the North-East region, assuring the public that all necessary measures are being taken to neutralize threats and safeguard lives and property. The successful rescue of 92 civilians serves as a clear message that the Nigerian military remains a formidable force against terrorism and will not relent until every captive is freed and every terrorist is brought to justice.

Troops Rescue 92 Kidnapped Civilians, Defuse 3 IEDs in Borno

BBNaija’s Phyna Exposes Alleged WhatsApp Chats, Accuses VeryDarkMan of Sexual Advances, Retaliation

Former Big Brother Naija winner Phyna has released screenshots of alleged WhatsApp conversations in which social activist VeryDarkMan (VDM) appears to make crude sexual advances toward her, including a message that read: “If we fuck, fine; if we don’t, bye.” The reality star, whose full name is Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, accused the outspoken online critic of later turning against her after she rejected his overtures.

In the screenshots shared via her official social media handles, a contact saved as “Vdmmmm” sent a series of sexually explicit texts. Among them: “Growing up I just say I’m sexually attracted to you,” “I always add sexually,” and “Make we fuck.” Phyna’s responses in the chat show her declining the alleged request. She replied: “I wasn’t interested” and accused the activist of lying and manipulation.

Phyna further claimed that after she turned him down, VeryDarkMan weaponized unrelated personal matters to damage her public image. “All this time I’ve been saying you lied, you refused to reply,” she wrote. “Can’t wait for your downfall because you are EVIL.” She also alleged that VDM involved a mutual contact—referred to as “friend blacky”—to pressure her, and later exploited a controversy involving her sister and a Dangote truck accident as a means of retaliation. “The worst lie a man can tell is to lie to someone to get their feelings,” Phyna wrote. “You choose my sister’s birthday of all days to divert attention.”

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The leaked exchanges have ignited fierce debate online. Some social media users condemned the circulation of private chats, while others argued that the messages, if authentic, reveal a pattern of coercive and manipulative behavior. As of press time, VeryDarkMan had not issued any formal response to the specific WhatsApp screenshots or the allegations of romantic advances. His representatives could not be reached for comment.

The controversy adds to a growing list of public confrontations between Nigerian celebrities and online activists. Phyna had previously sought VDM’s help regarding a legal issue involving her sister, but that relationship has since collapsed. Observers note that allegations involving rejected advances followed by online retaliation often raise serious questions about privacy, consent, and the misuse of digital influence.

While the screenshots have circulated widely, no independent forensic verification of the WhatsApp exchanges has been conducted. Both parties have not provided call recordings or additional metadata to authenticate the timeline of messages. The development remains a he-said-she-said dispute, though Phyna has urged the public to review the chats and draw their own conclusions.

BBNaija’s Phyna Exposes Alleged WhatsApp Chats, Accuses VeryDarkMan of Sexual Advances, Retaliation