Ibadan, Oyo State – A viral video circulating on social media has exposed a suspected political enforcer known as “Shawarma” boldly confessing to the murder of 32 people in Ibadan while pledging loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The footage, first obtained and published by SaharaReporters on March 17, 2026, shows Shawarma surrounded by a group of men believed to be loyalists of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during what appears to be a political rally or gathering.
In the clip, one supporter asks Shawarma how many people he has killed in Ibadan. Without any sign of remorse, he replies that he acted in self-defence during violent clashes.
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“When they wanted to kill me and they tried to suppress me in Ibadan, I reacted and killed 32 people. Nigerian Police saw me, they told me to go home. They all hailed me and said I tried. Nigerian soldiers saw me; they also said I tried, that those people wanted to kill me,” Shawarma stated in the video.
WATCH: ‘I Killed 32 People In Ibadan’: Suspected Political Thug Declares Support For Tinubu As Police Launch Probe pic.twitter.com/A7S1298ynG
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) March 17, 2026
He then openly declared his allegiance to the President, shouting, “Asiwaju 2027, he is our oga,” a phrase underscoring his backing for Tinubu’s expected re-election bid.
The confession has triggered alarm across Oyo State and beyond, raising fresh questions about political thuggery, impunity, and the role of security agencies in curbing violence linked to party politics.
Reacting swiftly to the viral clip, the Oyo State Police Command distanced itself from Shawarma’s claims and denied any prior knowledge or arrest of the suspect.
In a statement released on Tuesday by Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the Command said: “The Oyo State Police Command has obtained a video in which an individual identified as Shawama, in the company of others, claims to have killed 32 people. The Command wishes to categorically state that there is no record of such an individual having been arrested by our operatives at any point.”
Despite the denial, the police confirmed they have launched a comprehensive investigation into the allegations.
“However, as a responsible and responsive agency, the Command has launched a thorough investigation into the allegations and the confessional statements contained in the video,” Olayinka added.
The probe will involve advanced tools such as digital forensics and analysis of digital footprints, the statement noted.
The Command urged the public to provide credible information that could lead to Shawarma’s identification and arrest, promising to share updates on the investigation.
This incident revives long-standing worries about the persistent culture of political violence in Nigeria, especially in the South-West where rival factions often deploy thugs during elections and power struggles.
With early jostling for positions already underway ahead of 2027, many fear that unchecked thuggery and alleged protection by influential figures could escalate tensions and undermine democratic processes.
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