The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the death of a 60-year-old man following a shooting in Osogbo shortly after suspected hoodlums allegedly attempted to approach Nigerian singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, during a visit to the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo.
The incident occurred on Wednesday after Davido accompanied his uncle, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, to the palace of Oba Jimoh Olanipekun.
The governor had visited the monarch to present his certificate of return after emerging victorious in the August 15 governorship election.
According to the police, the governor arrived at the palace at about 3:15pm with a convoy of approximately 20 vehicles.
Earlier reports indicated that suspected hoodlums opened fire around the governor’s convoy, leading to an exchange of gunfire with security personnel. The confrontation reportedly lasted between 12 and 15 minutes.
In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, Osun Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the victim, identified as Tajudeen Yusuf from the Oke-Ayepe area of Osogbo, was shot in the Itaolokan area.
“On Wednesday, 19th August 2026, at about 1600hrs, the Command received information that one Tajudeen Yusuf, male, aged 60 years, of Oke-Ayepe area, Osogbo, was shot by suspected hoodlums at Itaolokan area of Osogbo,” the statement reads.
Ojelabi said preliminary findings showed that Adeleke had earlier visited the palace alongside Davido when an individual identified as Adebayo Taoreed, also known as “Small Rugged”, allegedly attempted to gain access to the singer.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that earlier in the day, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, accompanied by his nephew, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, paid a courtesy visit to the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, at the palace.
“Immediately after the visit, one Adebayo Taoreed, popularly known as ‘Small Rugged’, an ex-convict, a suspected notorious thug and a member of eye confraternity allegedly attempted to gain access to Davido but was resisted by members of his security Team.”
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The police said the confrontation reportedly drew other suspected gang members to the area, resulting in a temporary obstruction of movement around the palace.
According to Ojelabi, the governor’s convoy eventually departed safely, while the suspected gang members later left the area.
He alleged that the suspects shot Yusuf while leaving the vicinity.
“Upon receiving the information, the police immediately mobilised a patrol team to the scene, where the victim was found lying in a pool of blood,” Ojelabi said.
“He was promptly rushed to the University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, for medical attention. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead by the doctors on duty.”
The police spokesman said the command had commenced a full investigation and was working to identify and arrest those allegedly responsible for the killing.
“The Command has commenced a full-scale investigation into the incident and intensified efforts to identify, apprehend and bring the fleeing suspects to justice,” he added.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of elections in Osun State, Samuel Etaifo, condemned the killing as a “dastardly act” and assured residents that the police would deploy all available resources to apprehend the perpetrators.
The command also appealed to anyone with useful information about the incident to report to the nearest police station or contact the police through its official communication channels.