TikToker jailed for claiming actress has HIV shares experience

A popular TikToker, Olaoluwa Segun, recounted his detention at the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department—commonly known as “Panti”— after actress Dayo Amusa filed a petition against him. The dispute began in July 2025, when Segun posted a viral list alleging that several celebrities, including Amusa, were living with HIV. Amusa promptly denied the claim, explaining that she had only posted about her own HIV status in 2019 to educate her fans, and warned that she would take action against Segun for spreading false information.

Following Amusa’s petition, police summoned Segun, and he was subsequently detained at Panti for two days. He described the experience as the worst of his life, second only to the death of his mother. While in the cell, Segun was forced to prostrate and greet other inmates and endured deplorable conditions: a cramped space with four pit latrines, a single uncovered window, and about 60 people sleeping on cold tiles. He noted that the same cell had previously held musician Naira Marley during an earlier arrest.

Segun’s ordeal became slightly more bearable when one of the inmates recognized him as a TikToker and protected him from harsher treatment. In a surprising turn, Amusa later forgave Segun, an act he believes contributed to his release. He expressed gratitude for her change of heart, stating that without her intervention he might have remained detained much longer.

The incident underscores the importance of verifying information before sharing it on social media and highlights the potential consequences of spreading false news.