Breaking: Not Adeleke, police reveal real target of Osun convoy attack

The Osun State Police Command has said Wednesday’s shooting incident involving the convoy of Governor Ademola Adeleke in Osogbo was linked to an attempt by suspected cult members to gain access to music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.

The incident occurred shortly after Governor Adeleke received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following his victory in the Osun governorship election. Blueprint reports

Davido, who actively participated in the governor’s re-election campaign, was with his uncle during the post-election activities and accompanied him to the INEC office and later to the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo.

The development reportedly caused panic around the Oja Oba area of the state capital as sporadic gunshots were heard for several minutes, forcing residents and passers-by to seek cover.

Police link attack to attempt to reach Davido

Giving an account of the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Osun State, Abiodun Ojelabi, said preliminary findings indicated that a suspected member of the Eiye Confraternity attempted to approach Davido but was stopped by members of the singer’s security team.

According to the police spokesperson, the suspect was identified as Adebayo Taoreed, popularly known as “Small Rugged”.

Ojelabi described Taoreed as an ex-convict and suspected notorious thug who is allegedly affiliated with the Eiye confraternity.

He said the confrontation between the suspect and Davido’s security personnel subsequently attracted other suspected members of his gang who were in the vicinity.

The situation, according to the police, escalated as the suspected gang members allegedly blocked the entrance to the palace and disrupted the movement of the governor’s convoy.

The development eventually resulted in an exchange of gunfire involving the suspected gang members and security personnel attached to the governor’s convoy.

The police said the immediate priority was to secure the area and prevent the situation from escalating further.

Residents flee as gunshots ring out

The shooting reportedly created tension around Oja Oba and other parts of central Osogbo, with residents said to have scampered to safety as gunshots continued.

Witness accounts indicated that the confrontation lasted for several minutes, with sporadic shots fired while security personnel attached to the governor responded.

The incident occurred at a particularly sensitive time for the state, coming shortly after the governor had formally received his certificate of return from INEC.

Adeleke subsequently proceeded to the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, where the security breach occurred.

The presence of Davido, who had been one of the prominent figures involved in the governor’s election campaign, reportedly drew additional attention to the movement.

Although the initial confrontation was said to have occurred around the palace, the police disclosed that the violence later spread to another part of Osogbo.

60-year-old man killed in aftermath

The police said a 60-year-old man, identified as Tajudeen Yusuf, was killed during the incident.

According to Ojelabi, the suspected gang members left the vicinity of the palace after the confrontation but allegedly shot Yusuf around the Itaolokan area of Osogbo.

He said the police received information about the shooting and immediately deployed a patrol team to the location.

When officers arrived, the victim was reportedly found lying in a pool of blood.

Yusuf was subsequently taken to the University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, where doctors attempted to save his life.

However, the police spokesperson said the 60-year-old man was pronounced dead by medical personnel on duty.

The incident has therefore raised fresh concerns about the activities of suspected cult groups and street gangs in Osogbo, particularly their ability to disrupt public movements and engage security personnel in gun battles.

Police begin manhunt for suspects

The Osun Police Command said it had launched a full-scale investigation into the incident and commenced efforts to identify and arrest those involved in the shooting.

Ojelabi said the command was working to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and track down the suspects who fled the scene.

He added that the Commissioner of Police (Election), Osun State Command, CP Samuel Etaifo, had condemned the incident and directed security operatives to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible.

Etaifo, according to the PPRO, assured residents that the police would deploy all available resources to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The command also appealed to residents who may have information capable of assisting the investigation to come forward.

The police urged members of the public to report relevant information at the nearest police station or through the command’s official communication channels.

Police urge residents to remain calm

The command appealed to residents of Osogbo and the wider Osun State to remain calm and avoid actions that could further worsen the situation.

The police also warned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands, stressing that investigations into the shooting were already underway.

While the police have linked the incident to an alleged attempt to reach Davido, the command said the investigation would establish the full circumstances surrounding the confrontation and the subsequent killing of Yusuf.

Further updates, Ojelabi said, would be made public as the investigation progresses.

The incident adds to concerns over the activities of cult groups and suspected criminal elements in parts of Osun, with the police now facing the task of identifying the fleeing suspects, establishing their respective roles in the incident and ensuring that those found culpable face prosecution.

For now, security agencies have intensified their presence in the affected areas as authorities work to restore confidence and prevent a recurrence of the violence.