Authorities in Edo State, Nigeria have detained a 24-year-old TikTok creator, Osarobo Omoyemen — popularly known online as “Madam Oil Rice” — for allegedly fabricating her own kidnapping in an attempt to grow her social-media following, according to the Edo State Police Command.
Police officials confirmed that Omoyemen was arrested over the weekend in Benin City after investigators traced a viral video in which she claimed she had been abducted along Upper Sakponba Road. The video, widely circulated on TikTok and other platforms, also alleged that she was later “rescued” by police who supposedly demanded ₦10,000 for her bail at Akpata Police Station.
A police investigation was launched immediately after the footage surfaced. The Command’s spokesperson, CPS Moses Yamu, said in a statement that officers quickly discovered inconsistencies in the viral clip and moved to verify the claims. According to Yamu, Omoyemen eventually admitted during questioning that the incident was entirely staged and intended to draw attention to her social-media page.
Investigators also recovered evidence showing that an earlier version of the video included a person in the background urging viewers to follow her TikTok account — a clip she later deleted, which police say exposed the motive behind the story.
The Command condemned the act, warning that circulating false claims of kidnapping can cause public alarm, mislead emergency responders, and fuel distrust toward security agencies already working to address crime in the state. Police added that such fabrications risk diverting attention from real victims of kidnapping and other emergencies.
Omoyemen was arraigned in court on Thursday, November 20, 2025. Police say efforts are underway to identify and apprehend any accomplices who participated in producing or promoting the false alarm.
According to the Edo State Police Command, the case is intended to serve as a warning to content creators and social-media users who may attempt to generate attention at the expense of public safety. Officials urged the public to rely on verified information and refrain from sharing unconfirmed claims that could trigger panic.
Source:Africa Publicity
