Tension reportedly gripped Osogbo, Osun State, on Wednesday after suspected gunmen attacked the convoy of Governor Ademola Adeleke shortly after his visit to the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo.
The incident occurred on August 19, 2026, following Adeleke’s visit to the monarch after receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a second term. Reports said the governor was accompanied by his nephew, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.
According to reports, the incident triggered an exchange of gunfire between the suspected attackers and security personnel attached to the governor’s convoy. The confrontation reportedly lasted several minutes and caused panic among residents and traders in the area.
The Osun State Government said the governor and members of his team were safe, adding that security personnel successfully repelled the attackers.
However, the police later confirmed that a 60-year-old man, identified as Tajudeen Yusuf, was shot in the Ita-Olokan area of Osogbo during the wider incident. He was taken to the University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, where he was pronounced dead.
The police said preliminary investigations indicated that the incident followed a confrontation involving suspected gang members and members of Davido’s security team.
According to the police account, a suspected gang member allegedly attempted to gain access to Davido but was resisted by members of the singer’s security team. The confrontation reportedly attracted other suspected gang members, who allegedly obstructed movement around the palace before leaving the area.
The police said the suspected assailants later allegedly shot Yusuf while leaving the vicinity.
The Commissioner of Police in Osun condemned the killing and directed officers to intensify efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible.
The command also appealed to members of the public with useful information about the incident to assist the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, Davido has disputed reports suggesting that the shooting was directly connected to the governor or his movement. He reportedly described the incident as a fight outside the palace and said it had nothing to do with the governor’s entourage.
The conflicting accounts have added to public interest in the incident, with authorities expected to provide further clarification as investigations continue.
The development comes only days after Adeleke secured victory in the Osun governorship election, making the security incident particularly significant amid heightened political attention in the state.
Residents and business owners in Osogbo were reportedly thrown into panic as gunshots were heard in parts of the city, with some businesses temporarily closing and people moving away from the affected areas.
The police have stressed that the investigation is ongoing and that the allegations against individuals mentioned in preliminary accounts remain subject to further investigation.
Authorities are expected to release additional information as investigators work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the confrontation, the attack and the death of the 60-year-old man.
