Nigerians must not stay silent on insecurity, Davido tells Rarara

Davido wears jacket bearing names of abducted pupils, teachers in Nigeria for World Cup countdown performance. Credit: X| 5iveAliveWT

Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has called on prominent Hausa singer, Dauda Rarara, to openly speak out against the country’s worsening insecurity, insisting that silence and political bias only deepen national challenges. The controversy stems from Davido’s appearance at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert in Los Angeles on June 10, where he wore a customised jacket bearing the inscription “Bring Them Home” alongside the names of over 40 schoolchildren and teachers abducted on May 15 in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. In a video posted on his verified Facebook page, Rarara described Davido’s action as “barbaric,” arguing that it risked damaging Nigeria’s international image and alleging that the issue was being politicised. “I do not usually reply or react to issues like this, but what Davido did was barbaric. In my opinion, Davido and those who share his way of thinking are only behaving foolishly. “How can you promote Ansaru terrorists or insecurity-related issues to the whole world? How can you take a sensitive national security issue and project it to the world in a way that could damage the country’s image? What exactly do you stand to gain from doing that? “Davido took the names of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State, wrote them on the Nigerian flag and displayed it in America. What was the purpose? What did he hope to achieve? Or was it because he had turned the matter into politics?” Rarara further questioned the intent behind Davido’s move, suggesting it was linked to political interests and warning against the internationalisation of sensitive security matters. “Is it because his uncle is contesting an election on Accord Party and Tinubu is in APC? Is that why insecurity must become a campaign tool? Anyone who campaigns with insecurity is insane, because he does not fully understand what it entails. “What Davido did is similar to removing his own mother’s wrapper, taking a photograph of her and travelling to America to display it for the whole world to see, only to ask people to help cover her up again. What kind of thinking is that? “Insecurity is not something people should casually jump into. There are facts and circumstances that ordinary members of the public may not know. Before speaking on such matters, one should understand the situation properly. “Did Davido know the reason behind the abduction of those schoolchildren? Some terrorists were arrested. When