Popular Nigerian prankster and social media influencer, Ubani Zion, widely known as ZFancy, has been apprehended by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Centre for Cyber Crimes. The arrest took place around 11 a.m. on Wednesday in Abuja, following allegations related to one of his pranks.
A senior official at the centre confirmed the arrest, stating, “ZFancy, the popular prankster, had just been arrested by our men a while ago.” The prankster has faced accusations from several social media users of being involved in ritualistic activities.
The controversy intensified on June 16, 2024, when entertainer Dami Adenuga shared a video on his Twitter handle (formerly known as X). In the video, a woman identified as Kokina accused ZFancy of ritualism while searching for her missing friend. Adenuga’s post prompted the Nigeria Police on X to advise the woman to report the matter to the nearest police station immediately.
The police response read, “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We take allegations of this nature very seriously. Kindly advise your friend to immediately report at a police station nearest to her. You can also contact us immediately on our emergency lines to provide more details so we can initiate a thorough investigation. Your cooperation is essential to ensure a swift and accurate response. Thank you.”
When contacted, Force Spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed ZFancy's arrest, explaining, “Yes. It’s in relation to a case of a wrong prank.”
In a further development on Thursday, Adejobi released a statement via X, clarifying the circumstances of the arrest. He noted that the arrest followed the circulation of videos on social media in which ZFancy was accused of committing serious crimes, including rape. These videos caused significant apprehension among social media users.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Police Force, through the NPF National Cybercrime Centre, has arrested a Nigerian ‘prankster’, one Mr. Ubani Zion Chibuike (AKA ZFancy), at an apartment in Wuye, Abuja. This arrest follows the circulation of accusatory videos on social media, in which ZFancy was alleged to have committed heinous crimes, including rape. These videos caused significant apprehension among social media users. Furthermore, ZFancy came out and claimed the videos were scripted and part of his attempt to regain the spotlight after a break. Regardless, such actions have serious implications and can not be taken lightly. The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to maintaining public safety and ensuring that individuals are held accountable for actions that incite fear or disturb public peace."
The police have warned pranksters and content creators to be mindful of the potential threats their pranks and content could pose to public safety and security. They assured the public that necessary legal actions will be taken in this case.
The arrest of ZFancy serves as a stern reminder of the serious consequences of creating content that incites fear or disrupts public order, emphasizing the importance of responsible social media use.
