Actress Mercy Aigbe has lambasted social media users, saying they lack “empathy” and always quick to go behind their keypad to unleash “venom”.
Reacting to social media responses which followed after the Nigerian doctor, Chinelo Megafu, tweeted at about 09:43 p.m. on Monday, when she was shot during the Abuja-Kaduna train terrorist attack, Aigbe urged Nigerians to be more compassionate about others plight.
She further urged social media users to suppress the desire to judge situations too quickly.
Chinelo tweeted that she was shot and sought prayers from Nigerians.
“I’m on the train. I have been shot. Please pray for me,” she tweeted.
Unfortunately, Dr Chinelo’s tweet turned out to be true after her death was reported following a gunshot wound from the attack.
According to the film star, social media users lack empathy as they are always quick to go behind their keypad to unleash “venom”.
Sharing photos of the attacked train accompanied with screenshots of Dr Chinelo’s tweet with harsh responses that greeted it, Aigbe wrote: “I woke up with a heavy heart, completely heartbroken…. I am so drained… God, this country is exhausting… When exactly will God answer our prayers and flush out these evil leaders????
“Seeing the replies to Dr Chinelo’s tweet further broke me… has it degenerated to this? Where is the love??? No empathy whatsoever… people just hide behind their keypads and are quick to unleash venom …. how did we get here???
“I know we have horrible leaders but the truth is as a people, we can do better.. it doesn’t cost a thing to show love, you don’t know the actual situations people are in, don’t be too quick to judge most especially when you are not privy to events, situations, Dr Chinelo only asked for prayers, yet she was mocked, bullied, attacked, cursed.
“With sadness in my heart, I say R.I.P to another promising, young Nigerian, whose life was cut short because of this horrible system. R.I.P to those who lost their lives, Nigeria failed you. As a people we can do better, cos we are all we’ve got…”