Edo police nab TikTok influencer over fake kidnap claim to boost engagement
The Edo police command says it has detained 24-year-old Omoyemen Osarobo, a social media content creator, for allegedly “fabricating and circulating” a false kidnap claim in Benin City.
The command’s spokesman, CSP Moses Yamu, disclosed this in a statement issued in Benin and made available to journalists on Saturday.
Ms Osarobo is popularly known online as “Madam Oil Rice.”
Mr Yamu explained that in the viral video, the suspect claimed she was abducted along Upper Sakponba Road and extorted by officers at Akpata Police Station.
He described the claims as “entirely invented and dangerously misleading”.
According to him, the young woman confessed to staging the incident to boost engagement on her TikTok page.
“Findings revealed that the entire story was completely fabricated and deliberate.
“During interrogation, the 24-year-old female suspect confessed that she staged the incident solely to generate online content and attract followers to her TikTok page,” he said.
Mr Yamu added that investigations also showed that the suspect deleted an earlier video in which someone in the background urged viewers to follow her page, “clearly exposing the motive behind the false alarm”.
He warned that the fake kidnap report was capable of inciting public hostility against the police and causing unnecessary tension in the state.
He added that Ms Osarobo was charged to court on Thursday, while efforts were underway to track down her accomplices.
“Efforts are ongoing to arrest her accomplices to ensure they face the full weight of the law.
“This action is intended to serve as a deterrent to others, who may attempt to misuse social media to create panic or disrupt the public peace,” he said.
He urged residents to avoid sharing unverified claims and warned against the increasing trend of using social media for sensational content at the expense of public safety.
“The Edo State Police Command strongly warns against the creation and circulation of fake news, capable of disturbing the peace and security of the state.
“Members of the public are advised to verify information before sharing.
“The command remains committed to ensuring the safety, peace and security of all residents of Edo,” Mr Yamu added.
(NAN)
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