Palace Chaos: Police Say Cultists Targeted Davido, Not Gov Adeleke, in Deadly Osogbo Shooting

Palace Chaos: Police Say Cultists Targeted Davido, Not Gov Adeleke, in Deadly Osogbo Shooting

A 60-year-old man was fatally shot in a chaotic incident that unfolded after a confrontation between Davido’s security team and suspected cult members, throwing the ancient city of Osogbo into pandemonium on Wednesday afternoon. The Osun State Police Command has confirmed that music superstar Davido was the target of a gun attack that erupted following Governor Ademola Adeleke’s visit to the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, contrary to earlier speculation that the governor’s convoy had been directly ambushed. The attack resulted in the death of an innocent bystander, Tajudeen Yusuf, and has prompted a full-scale police investigation and manhunt for the fleeing suspects. Governor Ademola Adeleke had visited the monarch shortly after receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), confirming his re-election, and he was accompanied by his nephew, Davido, along with other members of his entourage and security aides.

According to the police, the incident began when a man identified as Adebayo Taoreed, also known as “Small Rugged,” attempted to gain access to Davido at the palace, sparking a heated confrontation that quickly escalated into violence. Described by police as an ex-convict, a suspected notorious thug, and a member of the Eye Confraternity, Taoreed was reportedly resisted by the singer’s security team, which triggered a chain reaction of events that would leave the palace vicinity in chaos. “The ensuing confrontation reportedly attracted other suspected gang members in the vicinity, who temporarily blocked the entrance to the palace and obstructed the movement of the convoy of the Governor,” explained DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the police spokesperson, in a detailed statement released to journalists. The exchange of gunfire caused panic among traders and residents in the Oja Oba area, with sporadic shots heard for 12 to 15 minutes, forcing many to abandon their wares and flee for safety as bullets flew through the crowded commercial district.

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While the governor’s convoy managed to leave the area safely and no member of his entourage was harmed, the suspected gang members later fled the scene after engaging security personnel in a fierce gun battle. However, as they departed towards the Itaolokan area of Osogbo, they allegedly shot Tajudeen Yusuf, a 60-year-old man who was unfortunately caught in the crossfire or deliberately targeted as they made their escape. Upon receiving the information, a police patrol team was immediately mobilized to the scene, where Yusuf was found in a pool of blood, with bystanders and residents looking on in shock and horror. He was rushed to the University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, but was pronounced dead by doctors on duty, marking a tragic end to what should have been a routine political visit and celebration of electoral victory. Police have since launched a full-scale investigation and a manhunt for the fleeing suspects, with security forces combing the Osogbo-Ilesa Road and surrounding areas in search of the perpetrators.

Despite the police account, Davido publicly disputed the narrative that the governor’s convoy was attacked, stating on his X handle that the incident was unrelated to the governor’s entourage and dismissing claims of a targeted assault on his uncle. “Lies! It was a fight outside the palace that had nothing to do with us! The pple love excellency!” he wrote in a now-viral post, expressing his frustration with what he perceived as media misrepresentation of events. This statement came before the police clarified that he, rather than the governor, had been the specific target, adding another layer of complexity to an already tense situation. As investigations continue, residents of Osogbo remain on edge, while political observers and fans alike await further updates on the motive behind the attack and the fate of those involved in the deadly confrontation.

Palace Chaos: Police Say Cultists Targeted Davido, Not Gov Adeleke, in Deadly Osogbo Shooting