Edo State Police Command has arrested 24-year-old social media personality Omoyemen Osarobo — widely known as “Madam Oil Rice” — after she allegedly staged a fake kidnap drama in Benin City to grow her online following.
Police spokesman CSP Moses Yamu, in a statement released in Benin and shared with NAN on Saturday, said Osarobo’s viral video claiming she was abducted along Upper Sakponba Road and later extorted by officers at Akpata Police Station was a complete fabrication.
According to Yamu, investigators found the story to be “entirely invented and dangerously misleading,” noting that Osarobo had admitted during interrogation that the whole scenario was created purely for attention 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,” Yamu stated.
He added that detectives also uncovered evidence that Osarobo deleted an earlier video in which a voice off-camera urged viewers to follow her page — a detail police say “clearly exposed the motive behind the false alarm.”
The command warned that the video was capable of stirring public hostility against the police and heightening unnecessary tension across the state.
Yamu said Osarobo was arraigned in court on Thursday as officers intensify efforts to track down others who may have helped her orchestrate the act.
“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.
The spokesman urged residents to resist the rush to share unverified content and cautioned against the growing trend of using sensational falsehoods to chase online fame.
“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,” Yamu added.
