Police free Prankster Zfancy, warned against dangerous pranks

By Taiwo Okanlawon

Popular skit maker, Zion Ubani, widely known as Zfancy, has been released by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), after spending a week in detention.

Zfancy was arrested by the NPF’s national cybercrime centre in Abuja on July 4 over prank videos accusing him of heinous crimes, including rape.

But in a statement on Wednesday, the police said Zfancy was released on bail to the executives of the Practitioners of Content Creation, Skit-Making and Influencers Guild of Nigeria (PCCSIGN).

The delegation was led to the force headquarters by Tokoni Peter Igoin, the special assistant to the president on ICT development and digital innovation.

In the statement by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesperson, the skit maker was also cautioned “to avoid pranks that could cause public unrest”.

“The videos were later found to be scripted. He has been warned to avoid pranks that could cause public unrest,” the statement reads.

“While encouraging positive creativity amongst the youthful populace, the NPF urges content creators to responsibly use social media and avoid spreading misinformation that may incite public disorder.”

Last month, a video was widely circulated on X wherein the prankster was accused of performing rituals on a lady.

The footage spread like wildfire, raising panic. The attention of the police was drawn to the incident, prompting the arrest of Zfancy.

It was later discovered that the video was a prank.

This is not the first time a Nigerian content creator would be landing in police custody over their skits.

In 2023, the police in Oyo remanded Abdullahi Adisa, another prankster known as Trinity Guy, in Agodi prisons, Ibadan, over allegations of sexualising a minor in his skits.