"It's Okay To Snitch If It Will Save A Friend's Life". — Niyi Akinmolayan Admonishes Men

Nollywood filmmaker Niyi Akinmolayan has urged young men to speak up when their friends engage in habits that could endanger their lives, insisting that protecting a friend should not come at the expense of their health and safety.

In a video shared on his Instagram page on Wednesday, the renowned filmmaker recounted the death of a young crew member who worked with him on production design, alleging that years of excessive energy drink consumption contributed to the kidney problems the young man developed before his death.

According to Akinmolayan, the deceased, who was in his early 20s, began experiencing facial swelling earlier in the year, prompting him to insist that the young man be taken to the hospital, where they discovered that he had kidney issues.

The filmmaker said he initially believed the swelling was a minor issue but became concerned when it persisted.

He also disclosed that when he asked the young man's friends about his drinking habits, they denied that he consumed alcohol or other substances, allegedly because they knew his position on excessive drinking and similar habits.

Akinmolayan said he was later informed by the young man's parents that he had died, describing the development as particularly painful because the deceased was one of his favourite people to work with.

Reflecting on the incident, the filmmaker said he had repeatedly witnessed young men remain silent when their friends engaged in potentially harmful habits because they feared being labelled disloyal or accused of snitching.

He noted that the culture of silence was common among groups of young men, including Nollywood crew members, where friends often protected one another even when someone was putting their health at risk.

“Guys, I need you to know that there is no wisdom in doing this group thing where we don't snitch on each other because we are guys and we have to be tough and hard,” he said.

The filmmaker further warned that the consequences of such silence could be severe, particularly in a society where access to reliable emergency medical services can be challenging.

“First of all, you're in a society where it's hard to get good emergency services. Second, the quality of the air, the quality of the food, all these fake drugs around is just a terrible thing,” he said.

He urged young men not to remain silent when they notice a friend abusing substances or engaging in other behaviours that could harm them, stressing that seeking help from someone in a position of authority should not be viewed as betrayal.

“This is the time to be the bad guy. If you notice that there is someone in your group that is living a life that is going to endanger themselves or even the people around you, it is okay to be the bad guy. It is okay to talk about it. It is okay to inform a senior authority. It is okay to ask for help on that person's behalf,” Akinmolayan said.

He encouraged men to have honest conversations within their circles and seek immediate assistance when they notice that a friend is putting their life at risk.

In the caption accompanying the video, the filmmaker reiterated his message, writing: “It’s ok to be the bad guy… the snitch… if it will save someone’s life.”