Davido Defends Wearing Pins for Abducted Oyo Schoolchildren at World Cup Event

Nigerian music star Davido (David Adeleke) has responded to criticism after he was seen wearing pins representing the pupils and teachers abducted from a school in Oyo State while attending a high-profile World Cup-related event.

In a video that has since gone viral, Davido addressed the matter directly, stating that he intentionally wore the pins to draw global attention to the ongoing abduction crisis. He emphasised that the children remain in captivity months after the incident and that he would continue to use his platform to advocate for their safe release.

According to Davido, the pins were designed with the faces and names of the abducted pupils. He said remaining silent or doing nothing while the children are still missing would be unacceptable, especially as a public figure with a large following.

The abduction, which occurred in May 2026 in the Oriire area of Oyo State, has remained a major national issue, triggering public outrage, protests by teachers, and sustained pressure on security agencies to rescue the victims.

Davido’s action and subsequent defence have received mixed reactions. While many Nigerians praised him for using his influence to highlight the plight of the children, others questioned the appropriateness of wearing the pins at an international sporting event.

The musician, however, maintained that there is no wrong time to speak up for innocent children held captive. He urged the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure their release, describing the prolonged silence and lack of concrete updates as unacceptable.

As of the time of this report, the abducted pupils and teachers are still in captivity, with no confirmed breakthrough in negotiations or rescue operations.

Davido’s intervention adds to growing public pressure on authorities to resolve the crisis, which has become one of the most emotive security issues in the country this year.