Former presidential aide and Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has criticised Afrobeats star Davido over the singer’s public advocacy for abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State, arguing that high-profile publicity around kidnapping cases can unintentionally aid terrorist groups.
According to reporting by PUNCH Newspaper, the dispute follows Davido’s appearance at a FIFA World Cup
countdown concert, where he used his outfit to highlight pupils and teachers abducted in Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State.
Davido reportedly wore a customised jacket and shirt displaying the names of victims, including those still held captive and those confirmed dead, in a move he described as a call for urgent government intervention.
In a statement posted on X, Omokri said such campaigns risk strengthening the incentives of armed groups rather than pressuring them to release victims.
He argued that global attention can increase the strategic value of hostages, making negotiations more complex for security agencies.
Omokri referenced the phrase often attributed to former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, that “publicity is the oxygen of terrorism”, insisting that militant groups thrive on visibility.
He also claimed that past international advocacy campaigns, including those linked to the #BringBackOurGirls movement, had unintended consequences by increasing the profile of abducted victims.
Omokri further maintained that security agencies often prefer lower public visibility in active hostage situations, though he stressed that government efforts to rescue abducted persons continue.
Nigeria has faced repeated school abductions in recent years, with authorities and security forces frequently conducting rescue operations across affected regions.
