There are two sides, those who believe and those who don’t, then you would find me.
On the 2nd of June, 2021, the Ekiti social media space was filled with reports of a missing young lady, Tutumade Adeyeye.
As the information began to filter in, more details about the young woman was revealed, making it known that she is an influencer and has her own NGO.
Organically, concerned youths like myself began to share the news across social media platforms, as everyone was keen to ensure her safe return.
While this was going on, some social media users claimed to know the young lady personally, alleging that she was not missing, and would return home soon. They said it was all a hoax.
The seed was sow
Thankfully, she was found the next day, but while people celebrated her return, some began to ask questions….they needed more details.
Their voices grew stronger….they alleged…the whole situation was a hoax and publicity stunt.
Strong in their believe, some of them – who had not heard her name prior to the incident, just like me – requested that she explains what actually went down during the period she went off grid.
Her friends requested for more time, as they stated that she had only just returned and shouldn’t be pressured into addressing the press.
Few hours later, she released a statement on her Facebook Group title ‘MY MISSING STORY: A MYSTERY’
Indeed, her narration was a mystery, as she explained that she has few recollections of the events that led to her being lost, but could only remember receiving a call on her phone (which shutdown after the call), then finding herself in an unknown location.
She would find some cash on her, a stranger garment and about 100 people praying.
The full statement can be read below;
The curious case: We are all victims
There are two sides, those those who believe and those who won’t.
The attacks didn’t stop after reading her narration, social media users kept emphasizing that there was foul play. As they said her narration could only be found in movies.
Many have also taken to social media to congratulate her on her safe return.
Then you would find me, who would say we are all Tutumade Adeyeye’s, given the volatile security situation of the country.
They might not be wrong, she might also not be telling a lie. But the current Nigerian situation keeps us all at security risks, and someday, we might just be at the mercy of social media commentators.
I am not saying there couldn’t have been foul play, there is always a possibility for anything, but the fact that many were quick to dismiss her claims as a stunt is worrisome.
Let me tell you a story.
Not quite long ago in this dear country of ours, a young job seeker had taken to social media to announce that she needed a job.
She got an offer from a young man and went ahead for the interview.
The young lady would be raped and killed by Uduak Akpan.
Before she was found dead, her friends had raised an alarm on social media, efforts were being made to find her, there were also early reports that the police was reluctant, as they didn’t believe she was missing.
This is the common attitude of a lot of us, doubting information that come from the youthful populace.
There is this fraudulent tag placed on the younger generation that makes many see us as dishonest.
This has to stop, because giving the volatile situation we are in…security wise….it would be precarious to always see information from the youths as fraudulent…we are all Tutumade Adeyeye’s and never can tell the situation we might find ourselves tomorrow.
Do we wait till the worst happens before we say….’oh it was not a stunt’?
Written by Tolulope Ayeni
