Davido Recounts How Army, Immigration Officials Launched Search for Him
Afrobeats superstar Davido has opened up about a dramatic episode from his teenage years, revealing how Nigerian security agencies were deployed to find him after he ran away from home to pursue music.
Speaking on the American podcast Bagfuel Brigade, Davido recounted secretly setting up a music studio inside his father, Deji Adeleke’s, 16-bedroom mansion after the death of his mother and while his siblings were studying abroad.
Despite his efforts to keep his musical ambitions hidden, Davido eventually grew restless and fled to London, where he lived with a producer friend for six months. His sudden disappearance prompted a large-scale search effort back home, involving immigration officials, police, army personnel, and other agencies.
“I had a whole studio in the house. My dad didn’t know. I spent most of my time there making music and smoking,” Davido said. “After a while, I left for London. My dad deployed every security agency in Nigeria to find me.”
The singer revealed that he was eventually apprehended at the airport upon his return to Nigeria. Planning to avoid going home, he was intercepted by an army officer as soon as he stepped outside the airport.
“When I landed, I wasn’t even planning to go home. But as soon as I stepped out, an army officer approached me and led me outside where my dad and several uniformed men were waiting,” he said.
Davido recalled expecting anger from his father but instead received a warm hug. “He was just happy to see me,” he added.
