Osogbo Palace Shooting: One Dead as Gunfire Erupts During Adeleke’s Visit, Police Say Davido Was Targeted

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Panic broke out in parts of Osogbo on Wednesday, August 19, after gunfire erupted near the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo in the Oja Oba area while Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke was inside the premises.

The incident occurred shortly after Adeleke received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following his re-election in the August 15 governorship election.

The governor subsequently visited the traditional ruler at the palace and was accompanied by family members, including his nephew and Nigerian music star Davido.

According to the Osun State Police Command, the confrontation reportedly started when a suspected member of the Eiye confraternity, identified as Adebayo Taoreed, popularly known as “Small Rugged,” allegedly attempted to approach Davido.

Police said security personnel prevented the suspected approach, after which the situation escalated as other suspected gang members reportedly became involved.

The suspects allegedly blocked the palace entrance and obstructed the governor’s convoy, triggering sporadic gunfire in the area.

The governor, Davido and members of their entourage were reportedly able to leave the scene safely.

The police said the suspects subsequently left the area and allegedly shot a 60-year-old man, Tajudeen Yusuf, around the nearby Itaolokan area.

According to the police, officers responded to the incident and found Yusuf injured before taking him to the University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, where he was pronounced dead.

The Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident in an official statement and said the command had commenced a full-scale investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible.

The police linked the incident to suspected members of the Eiye confraternity, although investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Importantly, authorities and sources close to the governor said the incident was not an attack on Governor Adeleke.

Davido also appeared to distance himself and the governor’s entourage from the violence, saying publicly that the confrontation outside the palace “had nothing to do with us.”

The incident has nevertheless generated widespread concern in Osogbo, particularly because it occurred while the governor and other prominent personalities were visiting the traditional ruler.

A separate account published by Naija Confra claimed that the violence was connected to a confrontation between rival Eiye and Aye groups. However, that account has not been independently verified by the police or other major news organisations.

The same platform later reported another violent incident in the Oja Oba area in the early hours of Thursday, August 20, involving the reported killing of a man identified as Cango. Police confirmation of that second incident was not available at the time of publication, and the report should therefore be treated as unverified.

The Wednesday shooting has heightened concerns over the activities of suspected cult groups and rival gangs in Osun State, coming only days after the state’s governorship election.

Security personnel have since moved to restore calm in the affected area, while the police investigation continues.

The Osun State Police Command has urged residents to remain calm and provide relevant information that could assist investigators in identifying and arresting those responsible.

As investigations continue, authorities are expected to establish the exact cause of the confrontation, the identities and roles of those involved, and the circumstances that led to the death of Tajudeen Yusuf.