Following the report of terrorists attacking a Kogi State highway and abducting several travellers, social media erupted with concern, outrage, and fear. Amidst the reactions, some comments displayed an alarming lack of sensitivity. One user wrote: “Just go and negotiate with them, they are your siblings.”
This remark is troubling because it trivializes the violence and human suffering caused by the attack. Kidnapping is a serious crime, and suggesting that victims or authorities simply “negotiate” as if the perpetrators are harmless relatives undermines the severity of the situation. Comments like this risk normalizing violence, dismissing victims’ trauma, and misleading the public about the dangers posed by armed groups. In moments of crisis, social media conversations demand empathy, seriousness, and awareness—not careless suggestions that diminish the gravity of terrorism.
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