Nigeria Police have made one arrest as they investigate the death at 22 of popular singer Destiny Boy, whose real name was Afeez Adesina.
Ogun state police’s homicide section is dealing with the case, it said in a brief statement.
Destiny Boy’s death on Sunday caused shock and online discussion. It is not clear exactly what happened, but his family reportedly said he had been suffering from a long-term illness. Since then, they buried the body according to Muslim rites.
Destiny Boy, a young artist, showed promise by mixing Fuji sounds with Afro beats.
His version of Davido’s song If in 2019 gained him national recognition after it went viral. Later, he recorded his versions of popular songs and original music.
After the young man died, videos spread on social media. They seemed to show his body going to a mortuary, and that led to speculation about his death.
Family members have said the singer had been living with a long-term illness, which they said caused him to have seizures.
Saida, his mother, said in an online video that they tried medical and traditional treatments.
She said the illness “had almost run him mad”, adding that relatives had to physically restrain him during seizures to prevent him from running out.
Nigerians online have been sending condolence messages, with some questioning the circumstances of his death.
READ ALSO Jilli Airstrike: Supporters Of Terrorists Will Be Treated As Bandits, Defence Minister Warns Defence Minister Christopher Musa has warned that supporters of terrorists would be treated as criminals. He said this on Monday as he reacted to the airstrike carried out by the Nigerian Air Force airstrike in Jilli, Borno State, over the weekend. Speaking after an expanded security meeting in Kaduna with the state governor and heads of security agencies, Musa said the operation sends a clear message to those collaborating with terrorist groups. He stressed that anyone found supporting insurgents would face the same consequences as the perpetrators. “A friend of a thief is a thief,” he said, warning civilians against associating with or providing any form of assistance to terrorists. Musa urged residents to steer clear of areas known to be used by insurgents, noting that proximity or collaboration could have grave consequences. The airstrike, carried out near the village of Jilli in Gubio Local Government Area, targeted what the military described as an ISWAP enclave and logistics hub. According to the Nigerian Air Force, the operation was intelligence-driven and aimed at neutralising terror elements and destroying their equipment. However, reports have emerged alleging that the strike may have affected a weekly market in the area, with civilians, including cross-border traders, reportedly among casualties. Musa, however, maintained that the strike should serve as a strong warning to those aiding insurgent activities, reaffirming the military’s resolve to intensify operations against terrorist networks. Air Component of Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, conducted a precision air strike on a known terrorist enclave and logistics hub located near the abandoned village of Jilli in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State. Giving an update on the airstrike, the Nigerian Army in a post on its official X handle said, “The successful strike, executed on 11 April 2026, followed sustained intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions over the Bindul–Jilli axis, an area long identified as a major terrorist movement corridor and convergence point for Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists and their collaborators.”
On X, artist Ruger appeared to be complaining that there had been “no autopsy” and “we just have to accept that he’s dead. May God RIP Destiny Boy”.
The artist began his career as a backup dancer for Fuji musician Pasuma at T2 Boys Studios in Agege, a suburb of Lagos, before gaining wider attention in 2019.
His death comes about a year after the birth of his first child with his partner, Iremide, in November 2024.
