Davido kidnap advocacy draws criticism from Reno Omokri, who says global publicity around abductions may hinder rescue efforts

Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has criticised Afrobeats star Davido over his public campaign for the release of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State, arguing that heightened publicity could undermine ongoing rescue efforts.

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The controversy follows Davido’s appearance at a FIFA World Cup countdown concert, where the singer used his stage outfit to highlight the plight of pupils and teachers abducted from Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Davido wore a customised jacket and shirt bearing the names of the victims, alongside inscriptions identifying those still in captivity and those confirmed dead. The gesture was intended to draw attention to the incident and encourage urgent action from authorities.

Responding in a statement posted on X on Thursday, Omokri argued that public campaigns surrounding hostage situations often have unintended consequences.

“Publicity Helps Terrorists. It Does Not Pressure Them. They Treasure it!” he wrote.

According to Omokri, there is a widespread misconception that international attention and public outrage force terrorist groups to release captives.

“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 said.

The ambassador-designate cited former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, referencing her often-quoted assertion that “publicity is the oxygen of terrorism.”

Omokri argued that terrorist groups depend on visibility to spread fear and increase their influence, adding that extensive media attention can inadvertently strengthen their objectives.

“If you do not know about their terrifying acts, they can’t have the power of terror over you,” he said.

He further contended that widespread publicity often shifts pressure from the perpetrators to governments, potentially increasing the leverage held by kidnappers and armed groups.

Drawing from personal experience, Omokri said he had previously been advised by security officials that advocacy campaigns could complicate negotiations in hostage cases.

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

According to him, increased visibility can make captives more valuable to abductors, thereby reducing the chances of an early release.

“By raising her profile, I was making her too valuable as a hostage to her captors,” he added.

Omokri also referenced the global campaign surrounding the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, arguing that international attention may have prompted the abductors to tighten security around the victims.

“If #BringBackOurGirls had not been made such a global phenomenon, their abductors would not have increased security around the girls,” he said.

Despite his criticism of public advocacy campaigns, Omokri maintained that Nigerian security agencies remain actively engaged in efforts to secure the release of the abducted Oyo schoolchildren and their teachers.

“This is not to say the Nigerian government is resting on its oars in the present case. Every effort is being made to secure the release of the children and their teachers,” he stated.

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The abduction has generated widespread concern across the country, with calls from civil society groups, community leaders and public figures for intensified efforts to rescue the victims and improve security in affected communities.