Hunger and the erosion of Nigerian morality
By Osordi Ayomide
The recent controversy surrounding alleged bandits sharing money during TikTok live sessions should worry every Nigerian with a conscience.
Videos and screenshots circulating online reportedly showed Nigerians flooding comment sections with their account details in exchange for cash gifts from people widely accused of kidnapping, raping victims, killing innocent citizens, and collecting ransom payments from traumatized families. Even more disturbing were comments from some young people openly asking to join the criminals, while some girls shamelessly offered themselves for attention and money.
What makes the situation painful is the hypocrisy it exposed in our society. These are the same Nigerians who regularly condemn banditry, insult terrorists online, and demand urgent government action against insecurity. Yet, the moment money appeared on TikTok, many suddenly forgot the blood and tears allegedly connected to that wealth. You cannot publicly condemn kidnapping today and tomorrow submit your bank details to benefit from the proceeds of that same crime. At that point, morality has already been compromised. As the popular quote says, “He who dines with the devil must use a long spoon.”
The truth is that not every money is worth collecting. Some money carries the sweat of honest labour, while some carries pain, trauma, and death. Behind every ransom payment are victims whose lives may never remain the same again. I once encountered a young girl who had just been rescued from kidnappers after spending two weeks in captivity. She could barely speak and kept standing up repeatedly from her hospital bed just to hug her family members, as though she was still trying to convince herself she was truly free. Everyone around could only imagine the horror she experienced in the hands of her abductors. This is why those who knowingly benefited from such giveaways should honestly bury their heads in shame.
At the same time, this ugly incident reflects the dangerous level of poverty, hopelessness, and frustration in the country. Hunger has reduced many people’s ability to resist wrongdoing. When unemployed youths begin to see suspected criminals as role models simply because they spray money online, then society itself is sitting on a keg of gunpowder. Some of the comments allegedly asking to be recruited into bandit groups clearly show that insecurity in Nigeria is no longer just a security problem; it is gradually becoming an economic and social crisis. A hungry nation will never be a secure nation.
The controversy also raises serious questions for the Nigerian government and security agencies. Many Nigerians are asking how individuals allegedly involved in violent crimes can operate active bank accounts, host public livestreams, transfer money digitally, and maintain visible social media identities while still evading justice. If ordinary citizens can be tracked over minor online offences, then authorities should also be able to trace and dismantle criminal networks using financial intelligence and digital surveillance.
Ultimately, this incident should serve as a wake-up call to Nigerians. We must learn to condemn evil consistently, regardless of personal gain. A society that celebrates wealth without questioning its source is slowly destroying its own moral foundation. The moment criminals begin to look generous and attractive because of money, crime itself starts becoming normalized. And that is perhaps the greatest danger facing Nigeria today.