By Nnenna Ibeh
On Wednesday, June 21, a Twitter user, @damideniola shared a video clip from a content produced by Abdullahi Adisa, popularly known as Trinity Guy.
Trinity Guy, a popular prankster, could be seen in his skit talking to a little girl, probably in the age range of 7 to 9, about seeing his penis and its colour.
The content had already been shared on Trinity Guy's social media handles before making its way to Twitter where it attracted a lot of condemnation and the attention of the Nigerian police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
Adejobi, while describing the content and action of Trinity Guy as dangerous child abuse and criminal, vowed to ensure that appropriate action is taken against the prankster.
True to the police spokesperson’s promise, Trinity Guy was extended an invitation by the Oyo state police command after which he was detained.
Before his detention, the prankster in another video shared on his Instagram thanked Adejobi for his “fatherly advice” while apologising for his action.
Whether or not Trinity Guy’s apology will be accepted by the little girl in question whom he failed to protect, and maybe the general public, is something that would be decided by the law.
The action of Trinity Guy and many perverts who can go any mile to satisfy their gains either emotionally or financially at the expense of minors in an already deranged society is the most worrisome.
And just in case Trinity Guy and his cohorts are unaware, on November 20, 1989, governments across the world promised all children the same rights by adopting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Convention, which is termed the Child Rights Act 2003, listed what nations must do for children and actions that are criminal against any child and this includes that all actions and decisions that concern a child should be what is best for the child.
The Act specifically in Article 34 states: “Every child has the right to be protected from sexual exploitation and abuse, including prostitution and involvement in pornography”. Exactly where Trinity Guy failed that little girl in his skit.
However, since the prankster lost his conscience while plotting and executing his skit, relevant authorities through the provision of the law will help us ensure that he comes back to his senses behind walls while the public ought to also hold them to account.
Societal Impact and Responsibility
Nevertheless, we must continue to understand that the influence of social media and online platforms cannot be underestimated in the shaping of societal norms and values. As content creators, pranksters like Trinity Guy, should be made conscious of the fact that they bear significant responsibility and need to consider the impact of their actions on the wider society especially when it involves minors.
By exploiting children and promoting abusive behaviour as entertainment, they contribute to a culture that disregards the rights and well-being of vulnerable individuals. The negative consequences extend beyond the immediate participants and can contribute to a desensitised society that fails to protect its most vulnerable members.
The entertainment value derived from these videos and several other contents should not overshadow the potential long-term consequences for the psychological well-being of the children involved.
It is essential for society, content creators, parents, and the relevant regulatory bodies to critically examine such instances and take decisive action to protect the rights and safety of children. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with each individual to reject and condemn exploitative contents and demand higher ethical standards in the digital ecosystem.
On the other hand, online companies and platforms must take responsibility for the content they host and adopt stricter guidelines to prevent the dissemination of abusive or harmful materials involving minors.