Reno Omokri Criticises Davido’s Campaign for Abducted Oyo Pupils

Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has criticised Afrobeats superstar Davido over his public campaign highlighting the plight of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, arguing that excessive publicity surrounding hostage situations could complicate rescue efforts.

The debate follows Davido’s appearance at the FIFA World Cup Countdown Concert, where the award-winning singer used his global platform to draw attention to the victims of the recent school abductions in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Davido appeared on stage wearing a customised jacket and shirt bearing the names of abducted pupils and teachers from the Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities. The outfit also contained inscriptions identifying those still being held captive and others reportedly killed during the incident.

The singer’s gesture attracted widespread attention on social media and generated renewed calls for urgent government action to secure the release of the remaining victims.

However, reacting in a lengthy post shared on his X account on Thursday, Omokri questioned the effectiveness of such public advocacy in cases involving terrorism and kidnapping.

According to him, many people mistakenly assume that international attention and public pressure force terrorist groups to release captives, whereas such exposure may actually benefit the perpetrators.

“Publicity helps terrorists. It does not pressure them. They treasure it,” Omokri wrote.

He argued that terrorist organisations often rely on publicity to spread fear, gain influence and increase their visibility. In his view, widespread media attention can unintentionally strengthen their objectives rather than weaken them.

“It is a very big mistake to think that publicity, or global outrage, pressures terrorists. Quite the contrary. They relish it. They thrive on it,” he stated.

Drawing from historical perspectives on counterterrorism, Omokri referenced former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s famous assertion that “publicity is the oxygen of terrorism,” suggesting that terrorist groups derive power from the attention their actions generate.

According to him, the more visibility such groups receive, the greater their ability to instill fear and influence public discourse.

“If you do not know about their terrifying acts, they cannot have the power of terror over you,” he added.

Omokri further argued that global campaigns often shift public pressure away from kidnappers and onto governments, creating situations where authorities become the primary targets of criticism while perpetrators continue to exploit the attention.

He also reflected on his previous advocacy efforts regarding the case of Leah Sharibu, the schoolgirl abducted by insurgents in 2018.

According to him, security officials at the time informed him that high-profile campaigns surrounding her case may have inadvertently complicated efforts to secure her freedom.

“I was informed by top-level security officials that my activities were actually making Leah Sharibu’s release less likely,” he claimed.

The former presidential aide suggested that increased public attention can raise the perceived value of hostages, making abductors more reluctant to release them as they seek to maximize leverage over governments and negotiating parties.

Davido’s campaign, meanwhile, has been praised by many Nigerians who believe celebrities should use their influence to spotlight humanitarian crises and pressure authorities to act more decisively on issues affecting citizens.

The controversy has sparked broader discussions about the role of public advocacy during hostage situations, with some arguing that visibility keeps victims from being forgotten, while others maintain that quiet diplomacy and discreet negotiations often produce better outcomes.

The abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area remain in captivity, while security agencies continue efforts to secure their safe release.