I’m not kidnapped— Sunny Ade breaks silence

Nigerian music icon, Dr. Sunday Adeniyi-Adegeye, popularly known as King Sunny Ade, has debunked viral reports suggesting he had gone missing. The juju music legend took to his official Instagram page on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, to address the claims made by his daughter, Damilola Esther Adeniyi-Adegeye, calling them “false and fabricated.”

Damilola had earlier raised an alarm on social media, alleging that her 78-year-old father had been unreachable for weeks. She directly accused his manager and stepson, Dayo Adegeye, of isolating the music legend from his family, claiming he was being moved from one hotel to another and drugged with sleeping pills under the guise of treating insomnia.

The allegations surfaced after media personality @Akanbitheduke amplified the concerns on Instagram, revealing that close friends and relatives were desperately trying to reach the veteran performer.

In her emotional outcry, Damilola further accused the manager and others of exploiting King Sunny Ade financially, coercing him into accepting performance gigs beyond his physical capacity, and denying him access to his own home and office.

However, in a detailed statement and video message posted to his social media page, King Sunny Ade dismissed the allegations as entirely untrue.

“Contrary to the falsehood and fabricated news dated 28th April 2025 peddled by Damilola Esther Adeniyi-Adegeye and her associates, who declared that I was missing, I hereby state that I, Dr. Sunday Adeniyi-Adegeye MFR, also known as King Sunny Ade, am alive and well,” he wrote.

He emphasized that the claims had no basis in reality and warned against further attempts to tarnish his image.

“I am alive, well, and grateful for the love and support of my fans. Thanks for your concern. The falsehood about my disappearance is completely baseless,” he added.

The music legend, revered as one of Africa’s most influential performers, also issued a stern warning to bloggers and individuals promoting the misinformation.

“Lastly, I utilise this medium to admonish the bloggers responsible for this mischievous act, alongside those who take undue privileges to trample on my hard-earned reputation and image, to desist forthwith — otherwise, be prepared to face the wrath of the law,” he warned.

In a video attached to his post, the septuagenarian reassured fans of his safety.

“I thank God and my people all over the world. My children wanted to see me, and when I took time off to rest, they felt they did not see me. But I thank God. Nobody kidnapped me, and I didn’t kidnap myself. I have to thank the whole world — you, my fans,” he said.