Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has criticized Afrobeats artist David Adeleke, known as Davido, for his public advocacy regarding the recent kidnapping of schoolchildren in Oyo State.
Omokri cautioned that drawing international attention to acts of terrorism could potentially hinder, rather than assist, ongoing rescue operations.
The tension arose after Davido appeared at a FIFA World Cup countdown concert wearing a customized outfit featuring the names of the victims abducted from Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities in Oyo State’s Oriire Local Government Area.
His attire distinguished between those still held captive and those who have died, an action he explained was meant to demand immediate government action.
In a detailed post on X this past Thursday, Omokri argued that such high-profile publicity often serves the interests of criminals. “Publicity helps terrorists. It does not pressure them. They treasure it!” he stated, dismissing the belief that global outcry forces armed groups to retreat. “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 added.
Drawing on a famous sentiment by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Omokri remarked, “Publicity is the oxygen of terrorism,” arguing that extremists use media attention to spread fear and manipulate public opinion.
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He suggested that global campaigns often deflect pressure onto the government while amplifying the psychological terror inflicted by the kidnappers.
“If you do not know about their terrifying acts, they can’t have the power of terror over you,” he asserted.
Omokri also drew from his personal experience advocating for victims of Boko Haram, such as the Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu.
He claimed that, in those instances, security officials indicated that intense public campaigns made the hostages “too valuable” to the terrorists and resulted in the abductors tightening their security around the captives.
He emphasized that Nigerian security forces are already working to secure the release of the abducted students and teachers, expressing confidence that these efforts, like similar operations in the past, will lead to a successful rescue.
