A video currently making rounds on social media has drawn strong reactions after it showed two children eating eba with what appeared to be dirty water as soup. The clip, recorded in Rivers State, has sparked both sympathy and criticism online.
In the footage, the two children are seen sitting on the floor and eating eba. Instead of soup, they appear to be using dirty, discolored water. A female voice can be heard in the background as she records.
“Everyone should be appreciative of the opportunities they have in life,” the lady says in the video. “These two kids seem to have no other choice.” The video ends with a call for viewers to watch the full clip online.
The video has generated widespread attention, but responses have been divided.
Many viewers expressed sadness and concern for the children’s condition and safety. “This is heartbreaking. No child should have to eat like this,” one comment read. Others shared the clip to highlight issues of child welfare, poverty, and food insecurity in some communities.
At the same time, the video has attracted backlash against the person who recorded it. Some users argue that the lady was wrong to continue filming instead of intervening. “If you saw children eating dirty water, the first thing is to stop them and get help, not record,” another user wrote.
Health professionals warn that consuming contaminated water can expose children to serious risks, including diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, and other waterborne illnesses. Eba without proper soup or safe water also means the children may not be getting adequate nutrition.
Child rights advocates in Nigeria say videos of vulnerable children should be handled carefully. The Child Rights Act emphasizes protection, dignity, and immediate assistance for minors in distress. Experts advise that bystanders should contact social welfare officers, community leaders, or child protection agencies rather than only recording.
Following the video, several residents and NGOs have called on the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and relevant authorities to locate the children, assess their home situation, and provide food, clean water, and medical checkups.
Community members have also asked for support programs that address extreme poverty and lack of access to basic needs…See More
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