By Akpos Ohwofaraye
In recent years, Nigeria’s entertainment industry has blossomed into one of Africa’s most vibrant and influential creative sectors. From music to comedy, film to online skits, Nigerian creators have redefined storytelling and built a global audience that celebrates their talent, humor, and innovation.
Among these creative expressions, pranks emerge as a light-hearted form of entertainment — short, funny clips that bring laughter to millions and offer relief in difficult times. What began as harmless street humor, however, has gradually evolved into a disturbing and dangerous trend that now threatens lives and undermines public safety.
Today, across social media platforms, prank content has taken a darker turn. What we often see now are not mere jokes, but life-threatening stunts staged in public places. Some content creators have gone as far as faking kidnappings, simulating armed robberies, or pretending to pour harmful substances on unsuspecting victims, all in the name of entertainment.
These acts are no longer funny; they are terrifying. They provoke panic, emotional trauma, and sometimes even physical harm. Imagine a trader walking home at dusk, only to be chased by masked individuals with fake weapons, or a mother collapsing in fear after being confronted with what she believes is a genuine threat, only for the perpetrators to laugh and say, “It’s a prank!”
This trend raises a critical question: At what point does entertainment cross the line into abuse?
Disturbingly, after the chaos, fear, or humiliation, many of these victims are handed small sums of money — sometimes as low as ₦5,000 or ₦10,000 — as “compensation” or “apology.” These payments, rather than making amends, often exploit the economic hardship that so many Nigerians face. The pranksters know that in a struggling economy, most victims will accept the money and agree to appear on camera, smiling through their pain.
This is not compensation, it is manipulation. It preys on poverty and turns human dignity into a tool for content creation.
The time has come for the Nigerian government and relevant regulatory bodies to take decisive action. Agencies such as the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) must begin to monitor, guide, and regulate prank content across all media platforms.
Regulation is not censorship, it is protection. It ensures that while creators continue to express themselves freely, they do so responsibly and ethically. It sets boundaries that prevent the exploitation of citizens and the glorification of harmful behavior.
Social media companies also have a role to play. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram must strengthen their policies to flag and remove content that endangers or humiliates individuals in the name of comedy. Algorithms should promote creativity, not cruelty.
And to our beloved content creators, your creativity is the heartbeat of this generation. But true creativity does not thrive on fear or manipulation. You do not need to risk lives or exploit people’s struggles to be relevant. The best comedians and storytellers are those who make us laugh without making someone else suffer.
Nigeria’s entertainment industry has achieved global recognition for its brilliance. Let us not allow a few reckless trends to stain that achievement. We must act now, as a people and as a nation, to protect our citizens, uphold our values, and preserve the integrity of our creative space.
Because laughter should heal, not harm.
And real entertainment should uplift, never exploit.
Engr. Akpos Ohwofaraye
MNSE , COREN, M.ENG . P. ENG in View
