Popular gospel singer Yinka Alaseyori has apologised to Nigerians following backlash over her comments on the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.
In a video shared on her Instagram page on Wednesday, the singer expressed regret that her earlier remarks were interpreted as insensitive to the concerns of affected families and the wider public.
Alaseyori explained that her intention was not to diminish the severity of the kidnapping incident or disregard the pain being experienced by the victims’ relatives.
According to her, she had initially released a video addressing the abduction, where she spoke about the roles of the government, relevant agencies and other stakeholders in responding to the crisis.
However, she later realised that some Nigerians felt her comments failed to reflect the urgency of the situation.
“I did a video two days ago about the kidnapped children, touching on government, parastatals and every agency. But when I woke up yesterday, I found out that some well meaning Nigerians were not happy about it, as I made them feel their voices are unheard,” she said.
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The gospel artiste said she was deeply troubled by the reactions that followed and appealed to Nigerians, particularly parents of the affected children, to pardon her.
Emphasising that she would never intentionally dismiss the concerns of grieving families, Alaseyori offered a heartfelt apology and asked for forgiveness from those offended by her remarks.
The controversy stemmed from an earlier video in which she encouraged Nigerians to continue praying over the country’s security challenges. She also stated that the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu were making efforts to secure the release of the abducted victims and address insecurity.
Her comments triggered mixed reactions on social media, with many Nigerians arguing that while prayers were important, authorities must take stronger and more decisive action to rescue those in captivity and prevent future incidents.
The abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has continued to generate widespread concern across the country, prompting renewed calls from citizens, advocacy groups and public figures for intensified rescue operations and improved security measures in schools and vulnerable communities.