Before You Press That Button, Remember This: Fear Kills Faster Than Death

Fear is one of the most powerful forces known to humanity. It does not knock before entering. It slips quietly into homes, hearts, conversations, and communities. It weakens the strong, unsettles the brave, and turns ordinary moments into prisons of anxiety. A man who is physically alive can already become emotionally defeated by fear long before danger ever reaches him. Sadly, today, across Nigeria, fear is gradually becoming a second pandemic.

Nigeria today stands at a dangerous crossroads. What once appeared to be a security challenge confined largely to the northern part of the country has gradually stretched its dark fingers into other regions, including the Southwest, which many once considered relatively insulated from the storms of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and organised criminality.

For years, the Southwest watched from a distance as communities in parts of the Northeast and Northwest groaned under attacks, abductions, killings, and displacement. Many believed the forests, economic structure, communal vigilance, sophistication and cultural cohesion of the Southwest would provide a natural shield against such horrors. Sadly, recent events have shown that insecurity respects no geography when left unchecked. It respects no sophistication.

Like a slow-moving wildfire, the menace crept in quietly. At first, there were isolated reports of highway robberies, farm invasions by herdsmen, and occasional kidnappings along lonely roads. Then the incidents became more daring, with attacks on palaces. Forest corridors expanded into criminal sanctuaries. Fear began to travel faster than facts.

The painful reality became even more alarming with the abduction of students and teachers in the Ahoro Esinele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area. Oyo State on Friday, May 15, 2026. The incident shook many families and institutions because schools traditionally symbolise safety, innocence, and hope. The thought that children could leave home for learning and not return safely struck deeply at the emotional heart of society. Parents became restless. Teachers became anxious. Communities began to question whether any place remained truly secure. That informed my earlier article. Eemo ti wolu: Why the South West Governors Must Act and Act Fast.

These developments have naturally produced tension, suspicion, anxiety, and heightened alertness among the people. Markets discuss it. Churches pray about it, and some have declared fasting too. Mosques speak about it. Families now call loved ones repeatedly whenever journeys are delayed. Travellers scan bushes with fearful eyes. Farmers worry about their farmlands. School owners now focus more energy about safety of the pupils than academics.

Unfortunately, amidst these security concerns, there has also been an explosion of unverified videos, recycled footage, manipulated information, exaggerated narratives, and panic-inducing broadcasts circulating across social media platforms. Every few minutes, another frightening video emerges. Some lack dates. Some have no locations. Some are old incidents reposted as fresh attacks. Some are entirely misleading.

When we deliberately
share false or exaggerated information or circulate videos of security breaches without adequate details, we unknowingly contribute to the objectives of terrorists and criminal elements. Terrorism is not sustained only by bullets and weapons. It is also sustained by fear, confusion, panic, and psychological destabilisation.

This trend is dangerous. A single unverified video can throw an entire community into panic within minutes. One recycled clip from years ago can create fresh chaos today. One misleading broadcast can make people abandon roads, markets, schools, and businesses unnecessarily.

Sadly, many people now share information not because it is true, but because it is dramatic. Social media traffic has become more important than social responsibility. Some people repost incidents from 2022 and falsely present them as current events in 2026. One wonders what satisfaction is derived from planting fear in already anxious hearts. One is forced to ask: what exactly do they hope to achieve? Is society helped by such conduct? Does panic improve security?
This is why we must be extremely careful. Terrorists and criminal elements do not seek only to attack bodies. They seek to capture minds. Their greatest ambition is psychological victory. Once fear dominates a population, criminals have already achieved half of their mission. At this point, fear is not an option.

For this reason, I think that anyone making or sharing security-related videos should endeavour to clearly indicate the location, date, and time of the incident. This is not only responsible citizenship, it also helps security agencies assess threats properly and respond effectively.

We must also remember that criminal networks can deliberately create diversionary mechanisms to overwhelm security architecture. False alarms in one area can redirect attention away from another vulnerable point. Disinformation itself has become a weapon.

Yes, the public space is free. Freedom of expression is important. But freedom without responsibility can become dangerous. People should share what they genuinely saw without exaggerating situations or planting unnecessary fear in the hearts of others.

Fear kills faster than death itself. A society constantly terrorised psychologically becomes weakened emotionally, economically, and socially. Businesses suffer. Investments slow down. Families become traumatised. Communities lose trust. Hope begins to fade. We must not allow them to achieve that, otherwise we will pay dearly for it.

Every citizen therefore has a role to play in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry.

This difficult moment should never become an opportunity for cheap social media traffic, emotional sensationalism, or attention-seeking behaviour.

Social media can help expose criminals, support intelligence gathering, and mobilise public vigilance. But it can also spread fear, confusion, and misinformation that indirectly empower criminals. Before sharing any information, whether written or video, let us pause and verify.

If we spend half of the energy we devote to circulating negative and frightening content on promoting positive developments, community vigilance, verified security updates, and responsible civic engagement, I think that our national atmosphere would become healthier and more hopeful.
Platform administrators should also carry heavy responsibilities at times like this. WhatsApp group admins, Facebook moderators, Telegram handlers, and online community leaders should actively discourage the dissemination of unverified videos, inflammatory comments, and misleading security information. Harmful content should be pulled down immediately. I have done this a couple of times and can confirm that it helps to instil decorum.

Nigeria is undoubtedly passing through a difficult season. But nations survive difficult seasons when citizens respond with wisdom, responsibility, courage, and collective discipline.

History teaches us that societies are not destroyed only by external enemies. They are also weakened internally by misinformation, panic, reckless communication, and the erosion of public trust. We must not lose trust in our leaders at various levels but must keep engaging them.
Those living outside the country also have important roles to play. Many diaspora-based individuals unknowingly worsen fear at home by circulating alarming but unverified narratives. Patriotism requires responsibility. Concern for the homeland should inspire constructive engagement, not panic exportation. I have read some people refer to our dear country as a Zoo republic and it is baffling that some of these people attended a University in Nigeria. If you are not an animal, you have a responsibility to challenge anyone who calls Nigeria a Zoo and to show them the way out of your space or platforms.

Nigeria will heal. But healing will require all hands-on deck. Security agencies must intensify efforts. Governments must act decisively. Communities must stay vigilant. Citizens must become responsible communicators.

Before pressing that button to forward a message, upload a video, or spread an alarming report, let every Nigerian ask: Will this help the nation or hurt it?

Before you press that button, pause. Think. Verify. Because in times like these, responsible communication is also a form of national service.

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Nigeria will heal. But healing will require courage over panic, truth over sensationalism, vigilance over hysteria, and responsibility over reckless virality.

Before you press that button, remember this: Fear kills faster than death.

Kayode Ogunjobi FHEA, FFAN is an environmental researcher, public affairs analyst, and passionate advocate for nature conservation, with a strong interest in environmental sustainability, ecological safety, and responsible public policy.