Nigerian music star, Daniel Oyebanjo, aka D’banj, has lost his son, Daniel Jr.
The 13-month-old boy reportedly drowned in the singer’s home in the Ikoyi area of Lagos during the visit of some friends of the family.
D’banj was said to be away for a musical award in Los Angeles, United States, when the incident happened.
The singer, who had yet to make any official statement, posted a cryptic message on his Instagram page on Sunday, which many of his followers, including celebrities, saw as a confirmation of the news.
While sharing a black picture with emoticons, he wrote, “Trying times. But my God is always and forever faithful.”
The post was greeted with a flood of condolences from celebrities and followers of the Oliver Twist crooner.
The senator representing Bayelsa East Constituency, Ben Bruce, asked D’banj to take heart.
“@iamdbanj, I am really sad to read about the death of your lovely son. Death of a child is the saddest thing for any parent. On behalf of my family and I, please do accept our sincerest sympathy,” he wrote on his Twitter page.
Aside the senator, other artistes who offered him condolences were Tiwa Savage, Michael Ajereh (Don Jazzy), Folarin Falana (Falzdbahdguy), Funke Akindele, Olamide Adedeji, Omotola Ekeinde, Jackiah Appiah, Genevieve Nnaji, Peter Okoye (PSquare), Olubankole Wellington (Banky W) and Toke Makinwa, among others.
Savage said, “I was just holding you last month, celebrating your birthday. I am in shock; my heart is broken. This is unbearable.”
Ajereh wrote, “Just heard the worst news in a long time.”
“May God comfort D’banj and his household; no amount of word is enough to heal or console at times like this, but strength from the almighty to see you through is what we pray for,” Adedeji wrote.
Nnaji wrote, “Please join me in prayer as we commiserate with the Oyebanjo family at this time. We can never fully understand the pain of others but every little prayer helps. @iambangalee our hearts break with yours. Stay strong my dear.”
Wellington said, “Having a hard time finding words to pray, but I’m praying for both of you. May God give both of you strength and comfort in this terrible time. I’m so sorry bro!”
Jalade said, “No, what’s this I hear? Oh lord… D’banj, our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.”
Meanwhile, some Nigerians have faulted the singer for not taking the warnings of some of his social media followers, who raised the alarm on the danger of having an unguarded swimming pool in his house.
One Tobi Samson, on his Twitter page recalled that no fewer than seven followers of the singer had raised security concerns after D’banj posted a video of himself and his son walking beside the pool.
He said, “Not 1, not 2, not 3… up to 7 angels in the form of followers raised the alarm five weeks ago when they noticed the indoor pool in a video D’banj posted with his now late son. My heart is crying.”
He posted screenshots of reactions to the video, in which one Korji said, “D’banj, a pool indoors and your baby passing by the pool…hmmm please be careful; tell wife and caregivers to keep an eye on him o…some chillings are risky.”
“Please bro, always make sure someone is always around to look out for him; may God keep him for us,” one Sangotolaoluwa had also warned.
Another Instagram follower, with the handle @max_tunde_mamediarra_mbaye, asked D’banj to take precaution because the child could wander off and slip into the pool.
A source said the case had yet to be reported to the police.
“Although the matter had yet to be reported, the police will still have to investigate the circumstances that surrounded the death. It is sad news and one can only imagine the pain the family is going through now,” she said.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, in a statement, said the state CP, Edgal Imohimi, was saddened by the death.
He said, “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Edgal Imohimi, on behalf of officers and men of the Lagos State Police Command, wishes to commiserate with the family of Mr and Mrs Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo aka D’banj, on the death of their one-year-old son, Daniel (Jnr) Oyebanjo… The entire command shares their pain.
“Although a delegation from the command, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Ikoyi division, CSP Mustapha N’Abba, who were at the Ikoyi home of the Oyebanjos on a condolence visit, did not meet anyone at home, it is expected that when the mourning period is over, the family will formally report the circumstances that led to the unfortunate death of little Daniel to the police.”
