Nollywood actor Jide Awobona has responded to criticism surrounding a now-deleted video in which he spoke about Nigeria’s insecurity, saying the post was removed because he was “emotional and deeply affected” by ongoing events in the country.
In a detailed Instagram statement, the actor said the backlash that followed the video highlighted how differently people react to national tragedies, urging Nigerians to show more understanding rather than turning on one another.
“Behind many smiles are pains you may never see. That is why we must be careful not to judge a book by its cover,” he wrote, emphasizing that public reactions often overlook private struggles.
Awobona explained that his decision to delete the video was not a withdrawal of concern, but rather a response to being overwhelmed by emotion. “A few days ago, I made a video about the insecurity and insurgency challenges we are facing. Still, I eventually took it down because I was vulnerable, emotional, and deeply affected by everything happening around us,” he said.
He stressed that this was not his first time speaking out on insecurity, referencing earlier posts about kidnappings involving children and teachers in Oyo State. According to him, he has also had personal encounters with crime, including being robbed, alongside “many other personal struggles, pains, and battles” that are not visible to the public.
The actor added that the intensity of reactions on social media was overwhelming, claiming he received “over a million comments,” many of which expressed anger and frustration. While acknowledging the emotions behind the responses, he noted that some comments crossed into hostility.
“I understand that much of that reaction comes from pain, disappointment, and exhaustion,” he said, adding that Nigerians are collectively struggling with fear and frustration linked to ongoing insecurity.
He also drew attention to what he described as a double standard in how public figures are treated during national crises. “What I find interesting is that many of those attacking others have not stopped living their own lives. They still go to work, attend school, eat with their families… and continue with their daily activities,” he said.
Yet, he argued, public figures are often expected to withdraw from normal life entirely during moments of national distress. “We are expected not to smile, not to work, not to attend events, not to post, and not to continue living. But we are human too. We feel pain. We grieve. We worry,” he said, insisting that celebrities are not insulated from the same realities affecting ordinary Nigerians.
His comments come amid ongoing national conversations about insecurity and the emotional toll of frequent reports of violence, kidnappings, and unrest across the country.