Davido recounts how entire Nigeria’s security agencies once mounted search for him

Afrobeats sensation Davido has shared an account of his teenage years, revealing the struggles he faced pursuing his music career against his father’s wishes.

In a recent episode of the American podcast Bagfuel Brigade, Davido recounted how he secretly set up a studio in his family’s 16-bedroom mansion and eventually fled to London to focus on music.

During his six-month stay in London, his father reportedly enlisted the help of Nigerian security agencies, including the army and immigration officers, to find him.

Upon returning to Nigeria, he said he was intercepted at the airport by an army officer and escorted to his father.

Contrary to expectations, his father welcomed him with a warm hug, expressing relief at his safety.

He said, “I was living alone with my dad in a 16-bedroom mansion because all my siblings were in America. I had a studio in the house and he didn’t know. A complete studio where I spent most of my time making music and smoking.

“I left the mansion for about six months. My dad was looking for me, the army, Immigration officers, Every security agency in Nigeria was looking for Dr. Deji Adeleke’s son, which is me.

“Eventually, I got caught at the airport on my way back from London where I have been staying with a producer friend making music.

“When I returned to Nigeria, I wasn’t planning to go home. I landed at the airport with the intention to go to a friend’s place — but the moment I stepped out, an army officer walked up to me and escorted me outside.

“The whole army was outside, like 20 of them and then I saw my dad, hugged him. He was like why did you run away, I said I wanted to do music. I just didn’t know how to tell you”.