This year, social media has given us some pretty gory, exciting, funny and downright stupid videos, pictures and memes. We have laughed, cried and choked from surprise at so many images.

But a few days ago, a video shook us to the very core. It wasn’t a violent video, nobody died, there was no blood, yet it was as horrible as if blood dripped in every shot. Don’t flinch yet.

The video was pregnant with meaning because countless young Nigerians were in that same predicament, or are skirting it. Popular social media celeb, Tunde Ednut posted a video on his Instagram profile page, https://www.instagram.com/p/BwwpvQ2grdb/?igshid=10tznu4pkq96i of a young man that had been abandoned to die. He was writhing in what appeared to be serious pains. His clothes were muddied and matted to his skin. He wasn’t coherent and may not have even known where he was. He was one of four boys! Four strapping young men all strung out on substances!

He had taken one too many ‘hits’ and it was painful to watch his agony. Where were his friends? His family? The ones he got ‘high’ with? We are not aware of any further steps taken on the matter but what we know for sure is that this must stop!

Initiatives such as MTN’s Anti Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP), Pastor Tony Rapu’s Freedom Foundation; Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (CADAM), etc are pushing tremendously to stop this and we have to help.

We can’t keep seeing these videos, shake our head in despair and hit ‘share’, then stop there. We all need to stand and help every young Nigerian understand that substance use is not an option.

We have too many beautiful things to do in this country and for our families. The future is too blinding to waste it on a harmful habit. So, volunteer https://asapmtnf.com/volunteer/ or even track the changes been made by other young Nigerians with the #MTNASAP on twitter. Whatever you do, do something fast.

Village people at work

DO NOT DISTURB