Tinubu Loyalist Rarara Brands Davido a 'Terrorist' for International Oyo Abduction Campaign

Dauda Kahutu, a prominent Hausa musician and a vocal supporter of President Bola Tinubu, popularly known as Rarara, has leveled serious accusations against international Afrobeats sensation David Adeleke, or Davido. Rarara asserted that Davido is "acting like a terrorist" by bringing Nigeria's security woes, specifically the kidnapping of schoolchildren in Oyo State, to a global audience.

These comments were made by Rarara, who is renowned for his campaign anthems backing President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) party, in a video clip reviewed by SaharaReporters.

Davido had recently utilized his platform at the FIFA 2026 World Cup Countdown Concert held in Los Angeles to draw significant attention to the abduction of students and educators in Oyo State, Nigeria. During his performance, he wore a jacket distinctly marked with "BRING THEM HOME" and the names of those kidnapped. This audacious display successfully garnered international focus on Nigeria's escalating security challenges.

In response, the praise singer, speaking in Hausa, criticized Davido for allegedly politicizing the issue of insecurity and for disseminating information that casts Nigeria in a poor light on the global stage.

Rarara commenced his statement with a traditional Islamic salutation, stating, "Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of God Almighty." He proceeded, saying: "People of the world, friends near and far, especially Nigerians, I greet you all. I wish you all the best. Ladies and gentlemen, please be patient with me today. I have come with something I have never said or done before. I am not someone who usually makes statements like this."

The musician explained that he felt compelled to speak out due to Davido's actions concerning the reported kidnapping of students in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. "But in this matter, what Davido has done to us is barbaric, and so are people who think like him. Everything about it is like animal behavior," he declared.

Challenging Davido's intentions, Rarara alleged that the Afrobeats star was promoting criminal acts and painting a negative image of Nigeria internationally. "Davido, are you going around promoting criminals? Are you promoting terrorists? How can you take Nigeria's internal security issues, our sensitive national matters, and take them abroad to the world? What do you hope to gain from that?" Rarara questioned directly. He extended his critique to include other content creators and public figures who choose to internationalize security-related events. "Any content creator who behaves like Davido, promoting terrorists, by God, you are dragging this country backward," Rarara stated emphatically.

Rarara suggested that Davido's choice to bring the predicament of the abducted children to an international audience was tantamount to exploiting a national calamity. "Davido took the names of children who were affected by tragedy in Oyo State, children who were kidnapped. He wrote their names on the Nigerian flag or on a Nigerian badge and went to the United States to display it. What is the meaning of that? What does he stand to gain from it?" he questioned.

The Hausa singer implied that political motives might be behind Davido's actions, pointing to the political aspirations of his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke. "Is it because he wants to turn everything into politics? Is he trying to politicise security issues?" Rarara probed. He further questioned: "If your brother is contesting under Accord, and Tinubu is in APC, does that mean everything becomes political? Does it mean you must now use insecurity as campaign material for your uncle?"

Rarara insisted that neither politicians nor their followers should exploit security challenges as instruments for political campaigns. "Any politician who campaigns using security issues is, in my opinion, ignorant and irresponsible," he asserted. He metaphorically likened Davido's actions to "untying his mother's wrapper, taking a picture of it, and going to America to display it, asking people to come and help tie it back. That is madness. Anyone with sense should reflect on this."

Rarara contended that security issues are intricate and should not be publicly debated without a thorough grasp of the prevailing circumstances. "Security matters are not something you jump into without understanding the situation. You must be properly informed about what is happening," he stated. Rarara then challenged whether Davido possessed adequate information regarding the details of the kidnapping incident. "Davido, do you even understand the reason those children were taken? Do you understand the kidnappers or terrorists behind it?" he queried.

The musician alleged that the kidnappers had sought the release of their accomplices, a demand that Nigerian authorities reportedly declined to meet. "These are criminals who took people hostage, and the condition was that their associates would only be released if the kidnapped victims were returned," Rarara claimed. He added, "The Nigerian government and security agencies refused to release the terrorists and insisted the children must be rescued instead." He further accused Davido of choosing an inopportune time to criticize the nation, despite ongoing operations by security forces. "So Davido now chooses this moment to insult our country?" he exclaimed.

Intensifying his condemnation, Rarara pronounced that Davido's behavior mirrored that of an individual undermining Nigeria's national interests. "Let me say this clearly: in my opinion, Davido is now acting like a terrorist. He is behaving like someone who is undermining his own country. He took our national issue and spread it abroad," Rarara firmly stated. The praise singer also contended that the scope of freedom of expression should not encompass the dissemination of sensitive national security information. "And that is not even true freedom of expression. Even in places like China, Korea or other countries, you cannot just go and spread sensitive national security issues without restriction, they restrict what you watch," he elaborated. "You cannot go to America or anywhere else and assume you can freely publish whatever you like when it concerns national security," he concluded on this point.

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Tuesday, publicly stated his readiness to make the ultimate sacrifice if it would guarantee the safe return of the kidnapped schoolchildren, their teacher, and principal from Oriire Local Government Area. He emphatically declared that Oyo State would not suffer a tragedy akin to the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction.

Governor Makinde made these assertions while engaging with protesters in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, amidst rising anxieties concerning the welfare of the abducted students and school staff. Makinde also revealed that a Nigerian Army lieutenant had lost his life two days prior during the ongoing rescue efforts, highlighting the grave dangers faced by security operatives involved in the operation. Speaking to the gathering, the governor emphasized that the state government was deploying all available resources to ensure the safe recovery of the children and school personnel, while simultaneously striving to prevent any additional casualties. He reiterated that Oyo State would not permit the situation to escalate into a national catastrophe reminiscent of the Chibok abductions. "That's our position. First, let me make it very, very clear. Oyo State is not Chibok, and it will not be Chibok," Governor Makinde affirmed. He added, "We have lost men, even soldiers, officers. I can confirm to you that a lieutenant in the Nigerian Army was killed two days ago. Yes." The governor conveyed his personal willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice if such an act would secure the safe return of the kidnapped victims. "So, if you ask me, can I sacrifice myself for those children to come out? I will do it," he concluded.