Nigeria's Ambassador-Designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has criticized singer Davido for drawing international attention to the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State. Omokri argued that such global publicity inadvertently serves the interests of terrorists rather than helping the victims.
Davido's Controversial Appearance
The critique followed Davido's appearance on Thursday, June 10, at the FIFA World Cup countdown concert, where the singer wore a customized jacket displaying the names of victims abducted on May 15 from the Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Omokri's Argument
Reacting via a post on X, Omokri acknowledged that while Davido's actions stemmed from goodwill, public campaigns and international outrage ultimately heighten the strategic value of hostages to their captors. He noted that terrorist groups rely heavily on global media coverage to amplify fear and expand their leverage.
Drawing from his experience as a presidential spokesperson during the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, Omokri stated that the massive global campaign following the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls' abduction severely complicated rescue operations by elevating the victims' significance in the eyes of Boko Haram.
Full Statement
Publicity Helps Terrorists. It Does Not Pressure Them. They Treasure it!
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. The late British Prime Minister, Baroness Thatcher, put it best when she said, 'Publicity is the oxygen of terrorism.'
Davido means well, but doing what he did, which I will not elaborate on, because my readers know what I am referring to, actually helps the terrorists who took those children more than it aids the rescue of the kids and their teachers.
Terrorists want publicity. That is how they spread terror. If you do not know about their terrifying acts, they can't have the power of terror over you.
Publicity, however well-intended, always works in the favour of terrorists by increasing their ability to incite fear in the public and pressure governments to give in to their demands by outraging the global community, who then put pressure, not on the evil terrorists, but on civil governments.
I was a Presidential spokesman under President Jonathan, and the rescue efforts for the #ChibokGirls were hampered the day Michelle Obama held up the #BringBackOurGirls banner, making it a cause célèbre.
From that point on, the girls became so high profile that it was more profitable, from a terror standpoint, for Boko Haram to hold on to them at whatever costs.
If #BringBackOurGirls had not been made such a global phenomenon, their abductors would not have increased security around the girls and separated them, making it more difficult for security forces to rescue them.
It is not as though 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 abducted from the Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities.
We recently saw the stuff our security forces are made up of when they rescued the sister of the immediate past power minister, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, and her children.
What this situation requires is not publicity, especially on a global stage. That is what the terrorists want. And a critical mass of Nigerians are very emotional people and may not understand the dynamics at play here. As such, they may start insulting and attacking me for saying this without pausing to understand the situation.
For four years, I travelled around the world, meeting world leaders in my effort to secure Leah Sharibu's release. I did not collect a dime from anybody and funded this effort myself.
I even released a charity single that I composed and produced with the late Onyeka Onwenu, and went to Nepal to attempt an Everest Climb.
However, after meeting two serving British Prime Ministers, and Canadian and Spanish Prime Ministers, an Icelandic Minister, as well as several Caribbean leaders, I was informed by top level security officials that my activities were actually making Leah Sharibu's release less likely, because by raising her profile, I was making her too valuable as a hostage to her captors, who would rather use the global publicity I was getting for her to raise funds, recruit more terrorists and project themselves.
And when my attention was directed to the UNESCO Handbook for Journalists on Terrorism Coverage, I was mortified with what I read. That piece of literature is very clear on how terrorism thrives the more journalists, celebrities, and politicians publicise acts of terror. In fact, the more you do, the more likely you will have reoccurrences.
That is why I stopped the publicity aspect of the #FreeLeahSharibu campaign.
Look at it this way. If you are a terrorist and are seeking publicity for your cause, to create a larger-than-life image and incite fear in the public, why would you release the very hostages who are responsible for the publicity you are getting?
I wish Nigerians could look at this in a sentient manner instead of being emotional over an issue that we can only resolve if we are rational!
