Nigerian singer D’banj has reflected on the painful loss of his son, Daniel Oyebanjo III, years after the toddler drowned in a swimming pool at the family’s residence in Lagos, revealing that he, his wife and their other children are now in a “safe space”.
Key Highlights
- D’banj paid tribute to his late son, Daniel Oyebanjo III, on X on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
- The singer said he, his wife and their two other children are now in a “safe space”.
- He described Daniel as the family’s star boy and also remembered his late brother, Femi.
- Daniel drowned in a swimming pool at the family’s Ikoyi home on June 24, 2018, aged 13 months.
- D’banj was in Los Angeles for the 2018 BET Awards when the tragedy occurred.
The music star, whose real name is Daniel Oyebanjo, shared the emotional reflection in a tribute to his late son on X on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
In the heartfelt message, D’banj expressed how deeply he missed Daniel, while acknowledging the pain his wife must have endured following the devastating loss.
He also described his late son as the family’s star boy, adding that his wife and their two other children have found a place of safety and healing despite the painful experience.
“I miss you, Daniel D3rd, my son, and trust me, I can’t imagine how your mother feels, but we are in a safe space now. Thank you… omo baba eh, our family’s star boy,” he wrote.
The singer further reflected on how the loss had changed his understanding of life, expressing gratitude to his late son for the lessons he had learnt through the experience.
He also asked Daniel to send his greetings to his late uncle, Femi, whom he said he equally missed.
“Thank you for showing me what life really is as a whole. Say hi to your Uncle Femi; tell him I miss him too,” D’banj added.
Concluding the tribute, the singer reaffirmed his love for his son, saying he loved him specially, physically, spiritually and powerfully.
How Daniel Died
Daniel died on June 24, 2018, after drowning in a swimming pool at his father’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos State. He was just 13 months old.
The incident reportedly happened while D’banj was in Los Angeles, United States, attending the 2018 BET Awards.
According to reports at the time, Daniel was playing with other children visiting the family when he reportedly wandered into the backyard and fell into the swimming pool.
He was subsequently rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The tragedy sparked widespread reactions across the entertainment industry, with fans and colleagues expressing sympathy for the singer and his family.
Following the incident, the Lagos State Police Command confirmed the toddler’s death and disclosed that officers had visited the singer’s residence.
The then Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, reportedly requested that D’banj and his wife formally report the circumstances surrounding their son’s death after their mourning period.
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Coping With The Loss
Months after the tragedy, D’banj spoke about how he managed to cope with the loss, crediting the love and support he received from fans for helping him and his family through the difficult period.
Speaking at a real estate company’s end-of-year party in December 2018, the singer described the incident as one of the toughest experiences of his life.
He said the support shown to him by fans gave him the strength to keep going, adding that the experience had tested him but he was grateful to still be standing.
His latest tribute has once again brought attention to the personal tragedy behind the singer’s public life, as he continues to honour the memory of his son.
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