- Gospel musician Yinka Alaseyori apologised to Nigerians after backlash over her comments on the Oyo schoolchildren abduction
- She said her original message was misrepresented after only a portion of her video circulated online
- The singer expressed sympathy for victims’ families and urged Nigerians to forgive her statement
Popular Nigerian gospel musician, Yinka Alaseyori, has publicly apologised to Nigerians following backlash over her comments on the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State.
The incident involved armed attackers who invaded Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026, abducting several teachers and students. Reports also indicated that one of the abducted teachers was later killed, sparking widespread outrage and renewed concerns over insecurity in schools across the country.
In the aftermath of the incident, protests and public criticism intensified nationwide, with labour unions, parents, and civil society groups calling for urgent government intervention to secure the release of the victims and improve school safety.
Alaseyori had earlier released a video in which she urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu and security agencies with prayers, stating that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted victims. However, her comments were widely criticised on social media, with many accusing her of being insensitive to the gravity of the situation and downplaying calls for stronger government action.
In a follow-up video released on Wednesday, the gospel singer tendered an apology, explaining that her initial message had been misunderstood and edited in circulation online.
She said she had recorded a longer prayer-focused message for the victims, their families, and the nation, but only a portion of it was widely shared, leading to misinterpretation.
“I discovered that the trending video was cut out of the video I made,” she said, adding that she never intended to disregard the pain of affected families.
Addressing Nigerians directly, she appealed for forgiveness and expressed empathy for grieving parents.
“Mothers, please don’t be angry with me… I beg you in the name of Jesus Christ, you will never bury your children,” she said.