*Vow To Arrest Suspects
*Davido: ‘It Was A Fight Outside The Palace That Had Nothing To Do With Us!’
THE Osun State Police Command has confirmed the killing of 60-year-old Tajudeen Yusuf in Osogbo on Wednesday, August 19, shortly after some hoodlums allegedly attempted to reach musician, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, during a visit to the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun.
Davido was in the company of his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, during his visit to the place to present his Certificate of Return to the monarch presented to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INE) after winning the August 15 governorship election.
Earlier, hoodlums had reportedly opened fire on Adeleke’s convoy, but no casualty was recorded.
The governor reportedly arrived at the palace about 3:15pm in a convoy of 20 vehicles, but suspected thugs reportedly opened fire on the convoy as it was leaving the palace, leading to an exchange of gunfire with his security personnel for about 15 minutes.
The Command, in a statement by its spokesman, Abiodun Ojelabi, on Wednesday evening, in its clarification of what transpired outside the palace, said a full-scale investigation had commenced into the shooting incident in the Itaolokan area of the state capital.
According to the statement: “On Wednesday, 19th August 2026, 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.
“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.”
Ojelabi explained that the ensuing confrontation attracted other suspected gang members in the vicinity, who temporarily blocked the entrance to the palace and obstructed movements, but the convoy eventually left the area safely.
He stated that the suspected gang members immediately departed the vicinity, but allegedly shot Yusuf on their way out, noting: “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.
“He was promptly rushed to the University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, for medical attention. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead by the doctors on duty.
“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 said the Commissioner of Police (election) for Osun, Samuel Etaifo, while condemning the “dastardly act,” assured the public that the Command would deploy all available resources to apprehend those responsible.
Ojelabi urged anyone with useful information that could assist the investigation to promptly contact the nearest Police Station or contact the Command through its official channels.
He added: “Members of the public are also advised to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
“Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”
Meanwhile, Davido, in a post on his verified X handle on Wednesday evening, debunked the report, insisting: “It was a fight outside the palace that had nothing to do with us! The pple love Excellency!”
