[OPINION] When Humanity Gives Way To The Camera

By Adesina Quadri Ademola

… Compassion, Not content, Must Define Our response

The tragic passing of popular skit maker, Sanku, in a ghastly accident along the Oyo–Ogbomoso expressway has once again laid bare a disturbing trend in our society—the cold detachment with which many Nigerians respond to emergencies. Rather than rushing to save lives, too many bystanders now instinctively reach for their mobile phones, eager to capture content rather than preserve humanity.

Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that several passersby were more interested in recording the accident’s aftermath than in rendering first aid or calling emergency responders. Clips of Sanku’s final moments flooded social media within minutes, even before his family had been officially informed. This is not just distasteful; it is dehumanising.

What does it say about us that we are quicker to chase “likes” than to lend a helping hand? Our parents and forebears lived in communities where solidarity and prompt intervention were sacred.

Today, the omnipresence of smartphones and the thirst for viral content have chipped away at that communal spirit.

Beyond morality, this culture of indifference has grave consequences. Precious lives are lost within the golden hour of emergencies—the critical period when immediate assistance could spell the difference between life and death.

Sanku’s case, sadly, is not the first, nor will it be the last, if this trend persists.

This nation must have a rethink. There is an urgent need for reorientation campaigns to remind citizens that no viral video can ever replace a lost life.

The government must equally invest in public education on first aid, emergency hotlines, and swift medical response systems.

But at the heart of it all, Nigerians must rediscover empathy—choosing to be their brother’s keeper rather than social media’s next content creator.

Sanku’s death should not be in vain. Let it be a wake-up call to return to our values of communal care, where saving a life trumps filming one. In moments of crisis, history will not judge us by the quality of the footage we shared, but by the humanity we showed.