A young tailor identified as Qawiyu has confessed to staging and posting a fake bandit attack video on social media in a desperate attempt to gain followers on TikTok.
The viral clip, which reportedly triggered panic in Atan, Ogun State, led to his arrest after many social media users believed the area was under a real bandit attack.
During interrogation at a police station, Qawiyu admitted that the incident was completely staged and that there was never any actual attack.
According to him, he was influenced by other viral creators online and decided to create similar content purely for social media growth.
“I did it because I saw people doing it to gain followers,” he confessed.
The suspect also revealed that the Fulani man seen in the video was not a bandit but a cattle herder who regularly passed behind his shop with cows.
Qawiyu explained that he personally convinced the man to participate in the content while his apprentice handled the recording.
He further disclosed that he recorded multiple versions of the fake attack video but later deleted one after noticing how quickly the clips were spreading online.
The incident has since sparked reactions across social media, with many Nigerians condemning the growing trend of fake viral content created purely for attention and online popularity.