Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has challenged the police account of Wednesday’s gun battle near the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, saying the incident had nothing to do with him or his uncle, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Davido’s clarification came after the Osun State Police Command linked the violent confrontation to an alleged attempt by a suspected thug to gain access to the singer shortly after the governor’s visit to the monarch.
The shooting, which reportedly lasted several minutes, caused panic around the palace and surrounding areas as gunshots rang out shortly after Governor Adeleke and his entourage left the venue.
But Davido, who accompanied the governor to the Ataoja’s palace, dismissed the impression that he and the governor were the targets of the incident.
In a post on his official X account, the singer said the confrontation was simply a fight that occurred outside the palace and was unrelated to him or his uncle.
His comments appeared to contradict the preliminary account released by the police, which suggested that the confrontation began after an alleged attempt to reach Davido.
Police link clash to suspected thug
According to the police, a man identified as Adebayo Taoreed, popularly known as “Small Rugged”, allegedly tried to gain access to Davido but was stopped by members of the singer’s security team.
The police described Taoreed as an ex-convict, suspected thug and alleged member of the Eiye confraternity.
The confrontation reportedly attracted other suspected gang members in the area, who allegedly blocked the entrance to the palace and disrupted the movement of the governor’s convoy.
The police said the governor’s convoy eventually managed to leave the area safely.
60-year-old killed
The violence, however, reportedly took a deadly turn after the suspected gang members left the palace area.
The police said a 60-year-old resident, Tajudeen Yusuf, was shot at Itaolokan area of Osogbo.
Yusuf, who was said to be from the Oke-Ayepe area of the city, was found critically injured and rushed to the University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
He was later pronounced dead by doctors.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the command had commenced a full-scale investigation and intensified efforts to identify and arrest the fleeing suspects.
The Commissioner of Police (Election), Osun State Command, CP Samuel Etaifo, condemned the killing and assured residents that the command would use all available resources to apprehend those responsible.
How the incident started
Governor Adeleke had arrived at the Ataoja’s palace at about 3:15pm in a convoy of about 20 vehicles after receiving his Certificate of Return at the Osun State headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Osogbo.
Davido accompanied his uncle during the visit to the monarch.
The governor reportedly left the palace shortly after the meeting, with the confrontation occurring around the area between approximately 3:50pm and 4:10pm.
While residents reported hearing sustained gunfire and described the incident as a clash involving security operatives and suspected hoodlums, Davido has now insisted that neither he nor the governor was the target.
The conflicting accounts have raised questions over what exactly triggered the shooting and whether the confrontation was connected to the governor’s convoy or was an unrelated clash that occurred in the vicinity of the palace.
The police said investigations were ongoing and urged anyone with useful information to approach the nearest police station, while advising residents to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
