Most of us understand the importance of rights and why we should protect ours. But why should we protect that of others? Why should we call for help when we see children being maltreated? They are not our relations or our friends. Why should we care?
The answer is simple. It may happen to you or yours.
Three years ago, the gruesome video showing the murder of the four ALUU boys went viral, Nigerians went beserk. Many had one or two comments about the barbarity of jungle justice. The virality and annual remembrance of the boys sparked investigations that probably might not have happened if the video never went viral.
The Chibok kidnapping sparked up a movement that constantly shook the seat of the presidency until the world took cognizance of the situation and created a voice through one hashtag – #BringBackOurGirls – to save the lives of school-girls who had been forced into slavery.
Recently, Nigerians became vigilantes as a result of the broadcast messages, retweets and Facebook pictures that carried the pictures of the Orekoya boys who had been kidnapped by their scheming nanny. These are children who we never met and whose names we never knew.
This is the power of social media. Gone are the days when we were asked to dial a number to get help or get Nkan Mbe to investigate a serious case of maltreatment or pure evil amidst commercials. Today, everyone with a social media account has become an avenue of help and a voice of freedom to those in pain.
Today is the international day of innocent children victims of aggression, a day created and observed by the United Nations. The original aim of this observance is to acknowledge the pain suffered by children victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.
Let us continue to use social media to ease our lives and that of others. Do not wait until everyone is talking about it till you join a movement.