A ritual video prank by famous Nigerian prankster, Ubani Zion, known as Zfancy, intended initially to stir controversy, increase social media buzz, and mark his return to the industry after a hiatus, has landed him in trouble.
According to media reports, Zfancy, known for his daring and often spontaneous pranks, had been absent from the scene for over a year for unknown reasons. To stage his comeback, he devised a plot involving a video in which a woman accused him of performing rituals, followed by a refutation a few days later.
Ensuring the aim, it was shared organically and placed on specific blogs, which increased its visibility and online buzz. As planned, the video went viral.
However, the trick did not fully convince netizens. Many viewers saw through the extreme publicity stunt, prompting social media critics and influencers like VeryDarkman on X to call for further investigations.
Despite the effort, the prank backfired nearly three weeks later. After several videos emerged online accusing him of participating in ritual activities and rape, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF)’s National Cybercrime Centre arrested Zfancy last Thursday.
According to media reports, the controversy began on June 12, 2024, when entertainer Dami Adenuga shared a video on his X page (formerly Twitter) where a woman named Kokina accused Zfancy of ritualism.
Kokina, a friend of the alleged victim, claimed that while searching for her missing friend, she discovered evidence implicating Zfancy. Mr Adenuga’s post, “This Zfancy matter is looking very real. The Nigeria Police should intervene at this point,” quickly went viral, prompting widespread panic.
The Nigeria Police on X responded swiftly to Adenuga’s post, advising Kokina to report to the nearest police station immediately.
However, last Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, updated the public, revealing that Zfancy had been arrested at an apartment in Wuye, Abuja.
He said, “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’’.
Despite Zfancy’s subsequent clarification on his YouTube channel that the video was a prank, public concerns did not subside.
Zfancy explained that the videos were scripted and part of his attempt to regain the spotlight after almost a year break from making prank content.
However, the Nigeria Police Force stressed the gravity of the situation and their commitment to public safety.