There’s No Image to Protect When Kids Are Being Kidnapped’: Davido Defends World Cup Protest for Abducted Students

Afrobeats star says he used FIFA stage to highlight 39 missing pupils and 7 teachers, arguing silence is not an option_

Afrobeats star Davido has defended wearing pins bearing the names of abducted Nigerian schoolchildren during his performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying protecting Nigeria’s international image should not come before protecting children’s lives.

In an interview with BBC’s _Focus on Africa_ host Waihiga Mwaura on Sunday, July 5, 2026, the singer explained why he used a global platform to draw attention to the case of 39 children and 7 teachers who remain missing after a kidnapping in Nigeria.

Davido said he deliberately chose to speak out during the World Cup event rather than stay quiet for the sake of optics.

“A lot of people don’t really want to talk about what goes on in my country simply because they want to protect the image, but there’s no image to protect if little kids are being kidnapped,” he said.

The pins he wore on stage carried the names of the missing pupils and teachers. For Davido, the gesture was meant to ensure the victims were not forgotten while the world’s attention was on football.

The singer said he was honoured to perform at the World Cup, but could not separate that moment from the crisis at home.

“As much as I was happy to do the World Cup, we also have to understand that there are things going on back home in our country, which we have the power to let the world know through our own means,” he explained.

He described music and live performance as his “power” and a responsibility. “When I say our own means, where’s my power? My power is in music, performances. We have these students that have been missing, still not found. So yeah, I use my platform to project what’s really going on.”

The abduction of the 39 children and 7 teachers has remained a major concern in Nigeria, with families and advocacy groups pressing for updates and action. Davido argued that international stages are one of the few avenues where the issue can reach a wider audience.

He said remaining silent to avoid negative headlines would be unjustifiable while victims were still unaccounted for. For him, raising awareness was more important than avoiding uncomfortable conversations about Nigeria’s security challenges.

The clip of Davido discussing the pins circulated widely on X after being shared by Vanguard Newspapers, with many viewers debating the role of artists in activism.

The singer’s comments add to a broader conversation about how Nigerian public figures address insecurity on global platforms. While some argue that highlighting such issues abroad can affect investment and tourism, others, like Davido, contend that silence helps no one when lives are at risk.

Davido, one of Afrobeats’ most prominent international voices, has previously used his platform for social causes. With the World Cup drawing billions of viewers, his decision put the case of the missing students back in international focus at a time when many feared it was slipping from public attention

The singer did not announce further actions, but said he will continue to use performances and music to speak on issues affecting Nigerians, especially those involving vulnerable groups.

For now, his message is clear: global visibility should also be used to keep pressure on unresolved crises at home. “There’s no image to protect,” he said, “if little kids are being kidnapped