Reno Omokri has criticised Afrobeats star Davido over his decision to highlight the Oyo school a.bduction during a global stage appearance at the FIFA World Cup ceremony, arguing that such publicity does not pressure terrorists but instead benefits them.
Davido had used the platform to draw attention to the kidnapped schoolchildren and teachers, sparking widespread reactions online as he called for urgent action and global awareness.
Reacting, Omokri said the move, though well-intentioned, was misguided and counterproductive.
He argued that terrorists depend on attention to amplify fear and advance their agenda, insisting that global outrage often strengthens their position rather than weakening it.
Omokri maintained that Davido meant well, but said actions like that ultimately aid abductors more than they help rescue efforts.
He further explained that kidnappers benefit from publicity because it increases fear and can influence governments through public pressure.
Omokri added that excessive attention can shift pressure away from criminals and onto governments, complicating rescue operations.
“Publicity Helps Terrorists. It Does Not Pressure Them. They Treasure it!” he stated.
“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.”
He also referenced his time as presidential spokesman under former President Goodluck Jonathan, claiming that global campaigns during the Chibok girls’ abduction made rescue efforts more complicated.
Omokri said he later stopped global advocacy work on similar cases after being advised by security experts.
“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.”
“That is why I stopped the publicity aspect of the #FreeLeahSharibu campaign.”
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