Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, used his appearance at the FIFA World Cup countdown concert to draw global attention to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The singer performed at the high-profile event in the United States on Wednesday, turning his stage appearance into a strong advocacy message for the safe return of victims still in captivity.
Davido was seen wearing a customised black leather jacket designed with green circular buttons, each bearing the names of abducted pupils and teachers.
According to reports, the names of victims still alive in captivity were written in white, while the names of those confirmed dead were marked in red, highlighting the tragic reality of the situation.
He also wore a white T-shirt with the word ‘NIGERIA’ boldly printed on it, while the back of his jacket carried the inscription ‘BRING THEM HOME’.
Before stepping on stage, Davido expressed sadness over the ongoing situation and called for urgent action from authorities to secure the release of the victims.
‘Peace and love everywhere. May God be with the families of the abducted and the ones who have been killed’, he said.
He added: ‘They still haven’t been rescued. We’re praying every day that the government hastens action. My country is going through a lot, and we represent everywhere we go’.
The performance came as part of the official build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Davido was featured as one of the headline performers, further strengthening his global influence as a cultural ambassador for African music.
He is also among Nigerian artists featured on the official World Cup soundtrack alongside Burna Boy, Rema, and Ayra Starr.
