Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, on Wednesday appeared on stage for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert in Los Angeles and turned the moment into an advocacy showcase for abducted Nigerians. He used his performance at the Crypto.com Arena to honour 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers recently kidnapped in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Davido stepped onto the stage wearing a customised black leather jacket covered with green circular badges bearing the names of the abducted pupils and teachers. The back of the jacket carried the words “BRING THEM HOME” while underneath he wore a white t-shirt boldly printed with “NIGERIA”. In a viral backstage video clip, the names of those still held captive were written in white lettering on the green buttons, while the names of victims who lost their lives during the ordeal were written in red.
The pupils and teachers were abducted on May 15, 2026, when armed attackers stormed Community High School in the Ahoro-Esinele community of Oriire Local Government Area. The attackers kidnapped 39 pupils and seven teachers, including the school principal. The attack also claimed the lives of school officials and a motorcyclist and sparked renewed calls for stronger measures to protect schools and communities.
Before going on stage to perform for the energetic crowd, Davido spoke to an interviewer backstage about the situation at home. He expressed grief over the nature of rescue operations and urged the federal and state governments to hasten their intervention. “Peace and love everywhere. May God be with the families of the abducted and the ones who have been killed,” Davido said.
“They still haven’t been rescued, we’re praying to God every day. We’re also praying to God that the government hastens, and you know… My country is going through a lot. We represent everywhere we go,” he added. By displaying the message on such a global stage linked to the build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the singer drew international attention to the ongoing crisis and amplified calls for the rescue of those still in captivity.
His appearance has since attracted discussion on social media, with many supporters praising the effort to keep public attention on the abducted pupils and teachers. The performance marked a significant milestone ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
