Davido insisted that the safety of citizens should take precedence over concerns about the country’s image.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Afrobeats star and record producer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed why he brought Nigeria’s growing kidnapping crisis to the fore during his performance at the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup.
The ‘Electricity’ crooner justified the decision during a recent interview.
Davido, who performed at the countdown concert of the World Cup in Los Angeles on 10 June 2026, wore a specially designed outfit bearing the names of the schoolchildren and teachers who were abducted by terrorists in Oyo State.
However, after the video surfaced online, it elicited mixed reactions, with some Nigerians berating the singer for spotlighting the incident on the world stage.
Reacting during his latest chat, Davido insisted that the safety of citizens should take precedence over concerns about the country’s image.
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He noted that he used the global platform to draw the attention of the international community to the attack and to keep the public’s focus on the ongoing tragedy.
He went on to criticise what he described as the reluctance of some influential individuals to openly discuss security challenges in Nigeria.
While headlining the event at the Crypto.com Arena, Davido said: “A lot of people do not want to talk about what is happening in my country because they want to protect a lot of images. Which image is there to protect if little children are being kidnapped?”
He added that although performing on one of the world’s biggest stages was a privilege, he felt a responsibility to use his voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.
The award-winning artist maintained that musicians and public figures should not remain silent in the face of humanitarian and security concerns, especially when vulnerable people are involved. At the time of his remarks, the abducted pupils and their teachers had yet to be found.
