Ogun Police Arrest Man Over Fake Kidnap, Banditry Video Along Owode-Idiroko Road

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Johnson Elleh for allegedly producing and circulating a fake video claiming kidnappers and bandits were operating along the Owode-Idiroko axis of the state.

The controversial video, which spread rapidly online, sparked fear among residents and road users, with many expressing concerns about safety in the area before police investigations uncovered what authorities described as a deliberate false alarm.

Confirming the arrest on Wednesday, the spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said detectives immediately launched an investigation after the video surfaced online.

According to him, security checks and field investigations showed there was no record of any kidnapping or bandit attack in the Owode-Idiroko corridor or surrounding communities as claimed in the footage.

Police further discovered that the suspect himself appeared in the viral video and was later tracked down and arrested by detectives handling the case.

Babaseyi stated that preliminary findings revealed the suspect allegedly created and circulated the false narrative mainly for attention and content creation purposes.

The police warned that spreading fake security reports could create panic, disrupt public peace, and weaken public confidence in security agencies, especially at a time many communities are already battling fears over insecurity.

“The suspect’s action was capable of causing unnecessary public alarm, disrupting social order, and undermining public confidence in the security architecture of the State,” the police spokesperson said.

The Command confirmed that the suspect would be charged to court after investigations are concluded. It also warned social media users and content creators against spreading unverified security information capable of misleading the public.

Residents were urged to remain calm and rely only on verified updates from official security channels while going about their lawful activities without fear.